Clarence Edwards (blues musician)
Encyclopedia
Clarence Edwards was an American
blues
musician
from Louisiana
, best known for his recordings
of "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" and "I Want Somebody". It was not until the late 1980s that Edwards was able to establish his reputation as a blues performer, assisted by his producer
and manager
Steven Coleridge.
, one of fourteen children, and relocated with his family at the age of twelve to Baton Rouge
. He joined the Boogie Beats, a local blues band, alongside one of his brothers, Cornelius, in the mid 1950s, and later played in the Bluebird Kings. Apart from playing on the local blues circuit, Edwards was shot
in his leg during a fracas outside a club
in Alsen.
Initially, Edwards found full time employment on a farm, but later worked for thirty years at Thomas Scrap. Dr. Harry Oster
recorded Edwards between 1959 and 1961, with Cornelius, and attendant violin
player Butch Cage. By 1970, when he next recorded for Mike Vernon
, Edwards had moved from an older styling to a more contemporary approach. Largely unknown until the late 1980s, his localised playing quickly spilled over to the national blues festival
circuit.
Swampin (1991), and Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 4 (1993), showcased the variety of Edwards' work and style, which garnered appreciation in the blues circles. However in May 1993, he died in his adopted hometown of Scotlandville, Louisiana, at the age of 60.
Following his demise, Edwards' earlier work, Swamps the Word, was remastered and reissued on CD
. In 2003 the compilation album
, I Looked Down That Railroad was released.
Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 4 (1993) - Wolf Records
Swamps the Word (1998) - Blues Factory
I Looked Down That Railroad (2003) - Last Call
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, best known for his recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
of "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" and "I Want Somebody". It was not until the late 1980s that Edwards was able to establish his reputation as a blues performer, assisted by his producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
Steven Coleridge.
Biography
Edwards was born in Lindsay, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, one of fourteen children, and relocated with his family at the age of twelve to Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. He joined the Boogie Beats, a local blues band, alongside one of his brothers, Cornelius, in the mid 1950s, and later played in the Bluebird Kings. Apart from playing on the local blues circuit, Edwards was shot
Ballistic trauma
The term ballistic trauma refers to a form of physical trauma sustained from the discharge of arms or munitions. The most common forms of ballistic trauma stem from firearms used in armed conflicts, civilian sporting and recreational pursuits, and criminal activity.-Destructive effects:The degree...
in his leg during a fracas outside a club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in Alsen.
Initially, Edwards found full time employment on a farm, but later worked for thirty years at Thomas Scrap. Dr. Harry Oster
Harry Oster
Dr. Harry Oster was an American folklorist and musicologist, working at The University of Iowa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from 1964 to 1994....
recorded Edwards between 1959 and 1961, with Cornelius, and attendant violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
player Butch Cage. By 1970, when he next recorded for Mike Vernon
Mike Vernon (producer)
Mike Vernon is an English record producer. He produced albums for British blues artists and groups during the late 1960s, working with the Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, Duster Bennett, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, John Mayall, Christine McVie and...
, Edwards had moved from an older styling to a more contemporary approach. Largely unknown until the late 1980s, his localised playing quickly spilled over to the national blues festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
circuit.
Swampin (1991), and Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 4 (1993), showcased the variety of Edwards' work and style, which garnered appreciation in the blues circles. However in May 1993, he died in his adopted hometown of Scotlandville, Louisiana, at the age of 60.
Following his demise, Edwards' earlier work, Swamps the Word, was remastered and reissued on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. In 2003 the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, I Looked Down That Railroad was released.