Johnny Moore's Three Blazers Explained

Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Los Angeles, U.S.
Genre:West Coast blues, R&B
Years Active:1940s–1950s
Past Members:

Johnny Moore's Three Blazers was a popular American vocal group in the 1940s and 1950s.The original members were:

Career

Johnny Moore and his younger brother Oscar grew up in Texas and then Phoenix, Arizona, where they both started playing guitar and formed a string band. In the mid-1930s they relocated to Los Angeles, where Oscar Moore, who had been influenced by Charlie Christian and turned to jazz, joined the King Cole Trio.

Johnny Moore remained devoted to rhythm and blues. His guitar style is considered to have been an influence on Chuck Berry. He joined and formed several groups, before forming the Three Blazers with two other Texans, the bassist Eddie Williams and the pianist and singer Charles Brown, who was newly arrived in the city. After the King Cole Trio moved from Atlas Records to Capitol in 1943, Oscar Moore suggested to Atlas boss Robert Scherman that he replace them with his brother's group. Scherman agreed and in 1945 they had their first hit, backing Ivory Joe Hunter on "Blues at Sunrise".

In 1946, they had their greatest success with "Driftin' Blues", sung by Brown. Moore refused to sign an exclusive contract with any record company, so the group's early records appeared on various labels, particularly Philo (which later became Aladdin Records), Exclusive Records, and Modern Records. The group followed up the success of "Driftin' Blues" with several other big R&B hits, including "Sunny Road" (1946), "New Orleans Blues" (1947), and "Merry Christmas Baby" (1947, also a hit in 1948 and 1949).

In 1947, the Three Blazers performed at the third Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. on September 7, 1947. The Valdez Orchestra, The Blenders, T-Bone Walker, Slim Gaillard, The Honeydrippers, Johnny Otis and his Orchestra, Woody Herman, and Sarah Vaughan also performed that same day.[4]

In 1948, frustrated by his lack of recognition and financial reward, Brown left the group for a successful solo career. The remaining two Blazers continued with a succession of vocalists, notably Lee Barnes, Billy Valentine, Floyd Dixon, Mari Jones, Nelson Alexander and, in the mid-1950s, Frankie Ervin. After Nat King Cole broke up his original King Cole Trio, Oscar Moore played as a guest with brother Johnny's group. Johnny Moore and the Blazers continued to record for small labels until the early 1960s.

Discography

Singles

Atlas releases

Philo releases

Aladdin releases

Modern Music releases

Exclusive releases

Modern releases

Exclusive releases

RCA Victor releases

Swing Time releases

Albums

10-inch (78-rpm) two-disc album set

10-inch (78-rpm) three-disc album set

LP and CD releases and selected compilations

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bob. Eagle. Eric S.. LeBlanc. 2013. Blues - A Regional Experience. Praeger Publishers. Santa Barbara. 365 . 978-0313344237.
  2. Eagle and LeBlanc, p.396
  3. Eagle and LeBlanc, p.312
  4. “Woody Herman, 3 Blazers, T-Bone, Others on Program” Review by Eddie Burbridge The California Eagle September 4, 1947.
  5. Book: Blues: A Regional Experience. 9780313344244. Eagle. Bob L.. Leblanc. Eric S.. May 2013.

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