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Bobby 'Blue' Bland Rest In Peace

one of the last of the living connections to the roots of the genre

By Sean Hampsey in Soul Music News
Updated on 11 Sep 2015 · Published 24 Jun 2013

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Just had an unconfirmed report that the great Bobby 'Blue' Bland passed away this afternoon. The great man was a blues and soul legend, known for his classic "Call On Me" amongst others on the Northern Soul scene and many more amongst the Blues/Soul fraternity.

 

So glad I got to see the great man perform on a couple of occasions.

 

Rest In Peace Mr Bland

 

Sean

 

 

 

added by site

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bland

 

 

 

http://news.yahoo.com/blues-singer-bobby-blue-bland-dies-83-033144802.html

 

GRENADA, Miss. (AP) – Bobby "Blue" Bland, a distinguished singer who blended Southern blues and soul in songs such as "Turn on Your Love Light" and "Further On Up the Road," died Sunday. He was 83.

Rodd Bland said his father died about 5:30 p.m. Sunday due to complications from an ongoing illness at his Memphis, Tenn., home surrounded by relatives.



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Mace

Mace 799

Posted (edited)

Sad news indeed.....my favourite artist, his songs inspired me to search out the grittier side of soul from an early age.

R.I.P Mr Bobby 'Blue' Bland.

Edited by Mace
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Guest john s

Guest john s

Posted

This looks like a hoax!

 

 

https://en.mediamass.net/people/bobby-bland/deathhoax.html

 

"Bobby Bland Death Hoax Dismissed Since Singer Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Sunday (June 23) the singer's reps officially confirmed that Bobby Bland is not dead. “He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. He's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet,” they said.

"
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Mike
Bobby "Blue" Bland, the legendary R&B singer who made his some of his finest records for Houston label Duke/Peacock -- including arguably his crowning achievement, 1961's Two Steps From the Blues -- has passed away at age 83, according to reports.
Citing a report from the Memphis Music Foundation, that city's CBS-TV affiliate WREG posted a notice of Bland's death at 7:49 Central Time. Despite rumors of his death being an Internet hoax, it was also reported and later updated by the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Bland's son Rodd told the Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury-News, that his father, a 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, had died at about 5 30 p.m. Memphis time.

 

 

Unfortunately the sad news reported appears to be now confirmed

 

The quote above is from the news article linked below titled

 

R.I.P. Bobby "Blue" Bland: R&B Singer With Deep Houston Ties Dies at 83

 

https://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2013/06/rip_bobby_blue_bland_rb_singer.php

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Denbo

RIP Bobby 'The Man' Bland. You will be sorely missed. Your legacy to the world is and has always been your music, which will live on forever in all of us.

Edited by denbo
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macca

Ain't Nothing You Do was the track that caused me to seek out more of his stuff. Fabulous singer. I shall be spinning his Touch Of The Blues LP today in memory of the man. RIP Bobby.

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Mal C

Just yesterday left something on the thread for Mary Love, so this really does come as a shock.

 

I'm obviously not alone, but Ive been a Bobby Bland fan from the very start of my love for Soul Music, ever since a mates mum sold me the 'Piece of Gold' LP as school. My only regret has been that the one occasion he came over to play at then Albert Hall, with Van Morrison, I didn't make the effort to see him live. He will be sorely missed by all, but personally his music has been such a constant in my life...

 

Lades and Gentlemen, here's the man! I mean the man! The Sensational, The Incomparable, The Dynamic...

 

Bobby, 'Bobby' Bland !!!

 

Rest in Peace Bobby...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhiOzqISD-w

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Jaco

One of the greatest vocalists, that's for sure.

 

A catalogue undiminished by time and an a legacy that will endure.

 

I saw him in a seedy supper club in San Diego in the early 80's and without doubt one of the most awe inspiring performances I've ever been so fortunate to witness.

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Tezza

First came across the great man when following up on David Bowies 'Manish Boys' single 'I Pity The Fool' Opened a whole new field of Music for me.

RIP Bobby

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bri phill

Probably one of the greatest of alltime...

I was a massive collector of Bobby Bland and with Curtis Mayfield had a massive effect on my teenage years and beyond..

He has left us with a fantastic catalogue of brilliant music.

R.I.P. Bobby

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Guest Dave Turner

Guest Dave Turner

Posted

Sad day, one of the true greats who trod that thin dividing line between blues and soul so gracefully

 

RIP Bobby

 

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Guest Matt Male

Guest Matt Male

Posted

Honey Child will always be one of my favourite soul/RnB records. Unmistakable vocals and the raw passion in his voice is shuddering. Awesome. RIP Bobby.

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Liamgp

I have never heard a record of his that didn't have something special or extraordinary about it. He and Little Willie John are the only two soul/RnB vocalists about whom I can honestly say that.

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Ady Croasdell

Very sad, I think Bobby could be described as a soul fans' singer. It took me quite a while to "get" him but once I did it was marvelous. I think he's a very black singer too, his hits were mainly R&B, from all his scores of releases not one entered the Hot 100 top twenty and not one British hit of any description.

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Newer

One of the greatest vocalists, that's for sure.

 

A catalogue undiminished by time and an a legacy that will endure.

 

I saw him in a seedy supper club in San Diego in the early 80's and without doubt one of the most awe inspiring performances I've ever been so fortunate to witness.

Likewise, saw him in a small Blues bar in Toronto 5 years or so ago and he was absolutely bloody brilliant, he did 2 shows as well that night

 

RIP

Edited by newer
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Guest BILL THE BLOCK

Guest BILL THE BLOCK

Posted

I saw him at the sadly no more astoria in charing cross rd london,he was sharing the bill with irma thomas and earl king.He was incredible that night ,he somehow managed to crossover to soul  and still sound bluesy.He will be sadly missed.

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Guest Brian Fradgley

Guest Brian Fradgley

Posted

His California Album will always remain one of my all time favourites and a true classic.

Legend

Brian Fradgley

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richo991

Just read about bobby bland loved shoes 

                                                    but 83 is'nt  a bad age 

 

                                                                                RIP Bobby

 

                                                                                                Richo

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Philreeves

 Bobby Bland made a huge impression on my early soul & R&B listening. What an incredible body of work he has left us!.

I love nearly all of the Duke material ...B sides included.

Thanks to Dave Godin for pointing the way in the many  Bobby Bland sides he wrote about. 

Anyone wanting some related inexpensive reading material ought to pick up Charles Keil's "Urban Blues" book in which Bobby's

on-stage act circa 1965/6 is observed.

Edited by PhilReeves
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Andreas B

 

 

I saw him in a seedy supper club in San Diego in the early 80's and without doubt one of the most awe inspiring performances I've ever been so fortunate to witness.

 

Jaco, I'd be curious to know if you remember the name of that club? I'm originally from San Diego and love to find out more about its seemingly non-existent history with soul music. 

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Jaco

Jaco, I'd be curious to know if you remember the name of that club? I'm originally from San Diego and love to find out more about its seemingly non-existent history with soul music. 

 

Hey Andreas, I don't think there is any chance of me remembering it.

 

We were staying in La Jolla and on the same night we watched UB40 somewhere in San Diego at what I imagine was a basketball arena.

 

We then had to get to this club where I'd seen Bobby Bland advertised.

 

It was definitely what you would describe as a supper club - I remember he came on certainly after midnight.

 

I think my wife and I plus maybe one more were the only white people in the club, not that it was a problem, but it would not be a stretch to say it was not in an upscale area of the city!

 

He asked the audience to write down requests and I asked for "Shoes" and "Yum yum tree" and he actually gave us a few bars of "Shoes" laughing that his band wouldnt even know it!

 

It was a memorable night nonetheless.

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Mr Smithy

It's a trite phrase sometimes bandied about with no thought behind it but there are some people whos contribution cannot possibly be measured
- I've been trying really hard to think of a duff record he made, couldn't do it. Even at his worst ...................

For me the telling record was St James Infirmary, out of the numberless versions out there his was the best- simple , passionate, words almost fail me.
Studio, live didn't matter.





Saw him for free at Lincoln Center quite a few years ago, open air, with James Cotton wailing, Magic.

Gone but not forgotten.

RIP
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Philreeves

It's a trite phrase sometimes bandied about with no thought behind it but there are some people whos contribution cannot possibly be measured

- I've been trying really hard to think of a duff record he made, couldn't do it. Even at his worst ...................

For me the telling record was St James Infirmary, out of the numberless versions out there his was the best- simple , passionate, words almost fail me.

Studio, live didn't matter.

Saw him for free at Lincoln Center quite a few years ago, open air, with James Cotton wailing, Magic.

Gone but not forgotten.

RIP

You nailed it .Perfect tribute!.

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Biggordy

A colossus of music.  One of the greatest of all time and so criminal that his passing has been ignored by the mainstream media despite him being a Grammy winner.

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John Reed

I loved virtually all his work from I’ll Take Care of you and Cry, Cry, Cry, through to Hurtin’ Love and When Hearts Grow Cold - A Bluesoul master, who has left a great legacy.

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Guest sharmo 1

Guest sharmo 1

Posted

He was one of my favourite artists and without doubt blessed by a higher being with one of those unique voices don't think there was a piece of music he did that I couldn't connect with.His feet were in Hell and soul was in heaven God Bless Bobby Bland.I'll meet you at the cross roads Sir.

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Alison H

Such a haunting voice that melts me every time.

 

First heard Bobby "Blue" Bland when I was on the UK Mod scene in the mid 80's, and I was hooked. 

 

Rest in Peace Bobby 

 

Thank you for the Blues 

 

Alison x

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