Cooper Terry

Vearl Cooper Jr

b. January 22nd, 1949 in San Antonio (Texas)

d. December 17th, 1993 in San Francisco (California)

WHAT I THINK ABOUT AMERICA

Carosello

1972

On ne connait pas grand chose de ce bluesman originaire du Texas. Il grandit en Californie mais a fait presque toute sa carrière en Italie. Il s'inscrit dans la tradition du Blues acoustique un peu à la manière de Taj Mahal. Pour ce premier disque, Cooper Terry chante, joue guitare et harmonica. Il est parfois accompagné d'un second guitariste et d'un percussionniste. On trouve quelques reprises de standards mais il y a aussi de bonnes compositions personnelles ("Cooper's boogie", "Leavin' the USA this mornin'", "What I think about America").

We don't know much about this bluesman from Texas. He grew up in California but spent most of his career in Italy. He is part of the tradition of acoustic Blues in the continuation of Taj Mahal. For this first album, Cooper Terry sings, plays guitar and harmonica. He is sometimes accompanied by a second guitarist and a percussionist. There are a few covers of standards but there are also good personal compositions ("Cooper's boogie", "Leavin' the USA this mornin'", "What I think about America").

SOUL FOOD BLUES

Bellaphon

September 1974

SUNNY FUNNY BLUES

Divergo

1980

Curieux album de blues acoustique gravé pour la marque italienne Divergo. Cooper Terry y est seul à la guitare accompagné seulement d'un choeur féminin (donnant une intonation Gospel du meilleur effet) et d'un harmonica. Excellent guitariste et chanteur, poète également, il délivre ici un remarquable disque avec de superbes plages intenses : "Sunny fun", "Signifyin' women", "Ain't go no home", "Goin' back to Frisco", "Prettiest train". Un magnifique disque d'un bluesman dont l'oeuvre devrait être réévaluée.

Curious album of acoustic blues recorded for the italian label Divergo. Cooper Terry is alone on guitar accompanied only by a female choir (giving a Gospel intonation of the best effect) and a harmonica. Excellent guitarist and singer, poet also, he delivers here a remarkable record with great intense tracks : "Sunny fun", "Signifyin' women", "Ain't go no home", "Goin' back to Frisco", "Prettiest train". A beautiful record of a bluesman whose work should be reevaluated.