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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Slim Harpo| image_size = 150| background = solo_singer| birth_name = James Moore| alias =| birth_date = Birth date|1924|2|11| birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana | death_date = death date and age|1970|1|31|1924|1|11| instrument = Harmonica , vocals| genre = Harmonica blues Louisiana blues Juke Joint blues Swamp blues | occupation =| years_active = 1950s - 1960s| label =| associated_acts =| website =| current_members =| past_members =| notable_instruments = Slim Harpo (February 11, 1924 January 31, 1970) http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll Allmusic.com was an American blues musician. He was known as a master of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was derived from "harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.Lockhart, John M. "Words & Music", http://www.riversidereader.com The Riverside Reader , February 4, 2008, p. 4
Early life
Born James Moore in West Baton Rouge Parish|Lobdell, Louisiana , United States ,cite book | first= Tony | last= Russell | year= 1997 | title= The Blues - From Robert Johnson (musician)|Robert Johnson to Robert Cray | edition= | publisher=Carlton Books Limited | location= Dubai | pages= 167 | isbn= 1-85868-255-X the eldest in an orphaned family, he worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim and later accompanied his brother-in-law, Lightnin' Slim , both live and in the studio.
Career
Named Slim Harpo by producer J.D. "Jay" Miller , he started his own recording career in 1957. His solo debut was the Grammy Hall of Fame single " I'm a King Bee " backed with " I Got Love If You Want It ."
Harpo recorded under A& R man J.D. "Jay" Miller , in Crowley, Louisiana for Excello Records based in Nashville, Tennessee , and enjoyed a string of popular R& B singles, including Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee " Rainin' In My Heart " (1961) and the number one Billboard (magazine)|Billboard R& B hit "Baby Scratch My Back" (1966). On these recordings he was accompanied by the regular stable of Excello musicians, including Lazy Lester .
Influence
British rock bands like The Rolling Stones , The Pretty Things , The Yardbirds , Pink Floyd and Them (band)|Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's 1966 hit "Shake Your Hips", which itself was derivative of Bo Diddley 's "Bring It to Jerome", was used in the ZZ Top hit " La Grange (song)|La Grange " and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album Exile On Main Street . Also, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers covered and released "Shake Your Hips" in 2003 on their album '' Cockadoodledon't .
Other notable covers of Slim Harpo songs include "I Got Love If You Want It," by The Kinks , "I'm A King Bee," by The Rolling Stones , the Grateful Dead and The Doors , and "Don't Start Crying Now," by Them_(band)|Them, with Van Morrison .
Personal life
Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s.
He died following a heart attack at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana .Find a Grave|12799771
Persondata | NAME = Harpo, Slim | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American blues musician | DATE OF BIRTH = January 11, 1924 | PLACE OF BIRTH = West Baton Rouge Parish|Lobdell, Louisiana , United States | DATE OF DEATH = January 31, 1970 | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Harpo, Slim Category:1924 births Category:1970 deaths Category:American blues musicians Category:American blues singers Category:American blues harmonica players Category:Blues revival musicians Category:Blues Hall of Fame inductees Category:Harmonica blues musicians Category:Juke Joint blues musicians Category:Louisiana blues musicians Category:Electric blues musicians Category:Swamp blues musicians Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction Category:People from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
