Richard Leslie Henry
b. May 21st, 1921 in Beaufort (North Carolina)
d. December 5th, 2004 in Beaufort (North Carolina)
I'M NOT LYING THIS TIME
Swingmaster
1947 / 1952
Né à Beaufort, il grandit à New Bern. Il commence à jouer de la guitare à l'adolescence avec Fred Miller. Les deux hommes se produisent ensemble plusieurs années. En 1947, Richard travaille pour Hawks Radio et s'occupe d'installer les premières télévisions. A New York, il fréquente Brownie Mac Ghee et Sonny Terry. Richard les accompagne d'ailleurs lors de séances en studio pour le producteur Bob Shad qui resteront malheureusement inédites. Dans ce CD sont rassemblés les premiers et précieux titres de Richard "Big Boy" Henry enregistrés par lui-même alors qu'il travaillait au magasin Hawks Radio à New Bern. De superbes titres comme "I'm not lying this time", "Sad letter blues", "Alabama bound", "I'm getting tired now" dans un style hérité de Blind Boy Fuller. Ces titres sont longtemps restés inédits mais grâce à Leo Bruin et Sem Van Gelder, ce CD a pu être édité en 1988. En 1971, Richard est revenu vivre dans sa ville natale Beaufort - il habite sur Cedar Street - avec sa seconde femme Ana et ses 15 enfants.
Born in Beaufort, he grew up in New Bern. He started playing guitar as a teenager with Fred Miller. The two men perform together for several years. In 1947, Richard worked for Hawks Radio and installed the first televisions. In New York, he frequents Brownie Mac Ghee and Sonny Terry. Richard also accompanies them during studio sessions for producer Bob Shad which will unfortunately remain unissued. In this CD are collected the first and precious titles of Richard "Big Boy" Henry recorded by himself while working at the Hawks Radio store in New Bern. Great titles like "I'm not lying this time", "Sad letter blues", "Alabama bound", "I'm getting tired now" in a style inherited from Blind Boy Fuller. These titles remained unissued for a long time but thanks to Leo Bruin and Sem Van Gelder, this CD was published in 1988. In 1971, Richard returned to live in his hometown Beaufort - he lives on Cedar Street - with his second wife Ana and his 15 children.
WORK'S MANY VOICES vol.1
J.E.M.F. (John Edwards Memorial Foundation)
1983
MR BALL YOUR WAREHOUSE IS BURNIN' DOWN (EP)
Audio Arts
1981 - 1984
WHAT'S COOKING DOWN HOME ?
Hometown (only on cassette)
1985
STRUT HIS STUFF
Swingmaster
September 1987 - January 1989
COOKIN' WITH THE BLUES
Hometown (only on cassette)
1988
WHOLE LOTS OF COOKIN' DOWN HOME
Hometown (only on cassette)
1989
WHOLE LOT HAPPENIN' DOWN HOME
Hometown (only on cassette)
1989
WALKING BACK DOWN SOUTH
Hometown (only on cassette)
1990
LET'S KNOCK 'EM OUT
Hometown (only on cassette)
1991
DR HENRY MD
Hometown (only on cassette)
1992
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE
Hometown (only on cassette)
1992
HANDS ACROSS THE SEA
Appaloosa
November 1992 - May 1993
CAROLINA BLUES JAM
Erwin
February 1993
Cette fois, "Big Boy" Henry est placé en leader d'un petit orchestre avec notamment Chicago Bob Nelson, Dave Peabody et Gary Erwin (également co-producteur avec Eddie West). Bien que Henry ne soit que chanteur ici, le programme est vraiment varié et inspiré, plein de verve : "The new Mr President", "My baby won't let me in", "Airport blues", "Holland boogie", "Rockin' little woman".
This time, "Big Boy" Henry is placed as a leader of a small orchestra with notably Chicago Bob Nelson, Dave Peabody and Gary Erwin (also co-producer with Eddie West). Although Henry is only singer here, the program is really varied and inspired, full of verve : "The new Mr President", "My baby won't let me in", "Airport blues", "Holland boogie", " Rockin' little woman".
GOT IT BAD
New Moon
May 1993
A LIVING PAST
Music Maker
October 1993
COOKIN' A POT FULL OF BLUES
Hometown (only on cassette)
1993
'93 MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOODING
Hometown (only on cassette)
1993
WE ARE THE MUSIC MAKERS
Music Maker
January 1994
"Big Boy" Henry chante "Old Bill" accompagné par Tim Duffy et Michael Parrish aux guitares.
"Big Boy" Henry sings "Old Bill" accompanied by Tim Duffy and Michael Parrish on guitars.
POOR MAN'S BLUES
New Moon
January 1994
Gravé à Chapel Hill par Randy Friel et Lightnin' Wells pour le label Blue Moon, il s'agit d'un bon set de Piedmont Blues qui mérite l'écoute. Pas forcément très original mais agréable, plein d'entrain et bien réalisé. "Big Boy" Henry chante mais joue très peu de guitare. Les parties de guitares sont assurées en grande partie par Lightnin' Wells et Max Drake.
Recorded at Chapel Hill by Randy Friel and Lightnin' Wells for the Blue Moon label, this is a good Piedmont Blues set that deserves to be listened to. Not necessarily very original but pleasant, lively and well done. "Big Boy" Henry sings but plays very little guitar. The guitar parts are mainly provided by Lightnin' Wells and Max Drake.
I FEEL SO GOOD
Hometown (only on cassette)
1995
BULL FROG BLUES
New Moon
1995
CAME SO FAR
Music Maker
1990's
[no image]
MESSIN' AROUND WITH THE BLUES
Hometown (only on cassette)
1990's
BEAUFORT BLUES
Music Maker
2002
"Big Boy" Henry chante et est accompagné à la guitare par Lightnin' Wells, Guitar Gabriel, Michael Parrish et Tim Duffy. Comme pour le précédent "Poor man's blues", Richard et ses musiciens délivrent un sympathique programme de Piedmont Blues quoique peu original tout de même.
"Big Boy" Henry sings and is accompanied on guitar by Lightnin' Wells, Guitar Gabriel, Michael Parrish and Tim Duffy. As for the previous "Poor man's blues", Richard and his musicians deliver a nice Piedmont Blues program although not very original though.