Remembering Jimmy Rogers (1924-1997), 10 Years After His Passing
Ten years ago, the music world lost a giant when Jimmy Rogers passed away at age 73 as a result of his bout with colon cancer.
Jimmy Rogers is perhaps best known for his long partnership with the great Muddy Waters, serving as the rhythm guitarist in Waters’ band for many years both on record for Chess and on the road. Rogers also released several outstanding sides for Chess as a frontman. Among the many great songs he cut as a solo artist are “Chicago Bound,” “Walking By Myself,” “That’s All Right,” “Ludella,” and “Rock This House.”
Bluesman Nick Moss toured as part of Rogers’ band before stepping out on his own with the Flip Tops. During his appearance on the B-Sides Concept Album program on Blog Talk Radio, Moss spoke of his admiration for Rogers [DOWNLOAD FULL SHOW].
“Jimmy, to me, is one of the most overlooked and underrated guitarists in blues history — at least by the mass blues audience — but most of the guys that I know, most of the hardcore, deep traditionalists, will give their props to Jimmy, said Moss. “A lot of people don’t realize what an effect he had with his rhythm style. He was, to me, the consummate rhythm and ensemble guitar player. He was the architecht of the two-guitar sound. When I hear it, I can instantly recognize if that’s Jimmy playing or not.”
In addition to having studied Rogers on record, Moss realizes what a great opportunity it was to play alongside legends like Rogers.
“Being able to play with guys like Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith and ‘Pinetop’ [Perkins] and Jimmy Rogers, all these guys, it was the best education money could buy only I didn’t actually have to spend, I got paid for it,” Moss said. “I didn’t get to go to traditional college but I went to the best university in the world for what I do because the university that I went to, I didn’t learn from books. I learned from the guys who wrote the books.”
Rogers was one of those guys who could step out front and lead as well as back up other musicians like Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. Anyone interested in checking out some of Rogers’ best work should listen to the 20-song compilation His Best, which collects some of his best solo work. It’s also work checking out some of Waters’ hits from the ’50s, many of which feature Rogers.
Filed under: Bloggin' the Blues
How time flies! Great singer–Jimmy Rogers has left us for ten years! Even now his smile I can still remember clearly. I am a career long Jimmy Rogers fan, loving his music very much. What a pioneer! Truly a great singer. To a bunch of kids growing up back then, he rocked! To me, I still enjoy listening to his music. My favourite album is “Chicago Bound”, it is the best collection of Jimmy Rogers’ classic Chess sides, and the list of sidemen reads like a who’s who of 50s Chicago blues. There aren’t any weak spots on the record. Every song will keep me listening. Here is the album I found: http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=74673 , I think if you like blues guitar at its best then this is the album for you.