b. April 7th, 1932 in Indianola (Mississippi)
d. September 19th, 1995 in Detroit (Michigan)
DETROIT BLUES MASTERS vol.15
Blue Eye blog (only on mp3)
1959 - September 1973
Né dans le delta du Mississippi, il s'installe à Chicago en 1946 puis à Detroit quatre ans plus tard. Avec son frère Little Mack Collins, il forme son groupe et joue dans les clubs de Hastings Street dans les années 50. Pour le label Northern, il grave ses premiers morceaux sous la supervision du producteur Robert West dans lesquels brille sa guitare élégante, influencée par B.B. King, en particulier "Live my life all over", "Until the day I die" et "Hard times once more". Dès le milieu des années 60, Mr Bo enregistre substantiellement pour le producteur Diamond Jim Riley en particulier les excellents "I ain't gonna suffer" et "If trouble was money". Mais la collaboration s'arrête brutalement lorsque Riley est assassiné en 1971. Malgré cette intéressante production et sa participation au festival d'Ann Arbor en septembre 1973 (le bon "Don't want no woman"), il reste relativement méconnu. Cette sélection rassemblée par Gérard Herzhaft sur son blog inclut également le CD "If trouble was money" (voir ci-dessous).
Born in the Mississippi Delta, he moved to Chicago in 1946 and then to Detroit four years later. With his brother Little Mack Collins, he formed his own band and played in the clubs of Hastings Street in the 50's. For the Northern label, he cut his first tracks under the supervision of producer Robert West in which shines his elegant guitar, influenced by B.B. King, in particular "Live my life all over", "Until the day I die" and "Hard times once more". From the mid-1960's onward, Mr Bo recorded extensively for producer Diamond Jim Riley, notably the excellent "I ain't gonna suffer" and "If trouble was money". But the collaboration ended abruptly when Riley was assassinated in 1971. Despite this interesting production and his participation in the Ann Arbor Festival in september 1973 (the nice "Don't want no woman"), he remains relatively unknown. This selection collected by Gérard Herzhaft on his blog also includes the "If trouble was money" CD (see below).
IF TROUBLE WAS MONEY
Blue Suit
Spring 1995
Originaire de la scène de Detroit, régulièrement actif depuis les années 50, Mr Bo n'a pu graver son premier et seul album que dans les derniers jours de sa vie. Pourtant, il avait déjà brillé sur plusieurs simples et avait même fait une tournée en Europe en 1993 (notamment au Blues Estafette d'Utrecht). Sa musique s'inscrit dans la lignée d'un B.B. King dont il reprend le style avec goût : voix suave, guitare au jeu fluide. L'album produit par John Henry pour le label Blue Suit montre le talent de ce bluesman inspiré qui teinte son Blues d'éléments de Jazz. Un programme consistant en particulier "If trouble was money", "Fire down below", "Detroit Michigan", "Born in the country", "Buzz me", "Bo's groove".
Originally from the Detroit scene, regularly active since the 1950's, Mr Bo was only able to record his first and only album in the last days of his life. Yet he had already shone on several singles and had even toured Europe in 1993 (notably at the Blues Estafette in Utrecht). His music is in line with B.B. King whose style he takes up with taste : suave voice, fluid guitar playing. The album produced by John Henry for the Blue Suit label shows the talent of this inspired bluesman who colors his Blues with elements of Jazz. A consistent program in particular "If trouble was money", "Fire down below", "Detroit Michigan", "Born in the country", "Buzz me", "Bo's groove".