Joe Liggins
Pianist Joe Liggins and his band, the Honeydrippers, tore up the R&B charts during the late '40s and early '50s with their polished brand of polite R&B. Liggins scored massive hits with "The Honeydripper" in 1945 and "Pink Champagne" five years later, posting a great many more solid sellers in between.
Born in Oklahoma, Liggins moved to San Diego in 1932. He moved to Los Angeles in 1939 and played with various outfits, including Sammy Franklin's California Rhythm Rascals. When Franklin took an unwise pass on recording Liggins' infectious "The Honeydripper," the bespectacled pianist assembled his own band and waxed the tune for Leon René's Exclusive logo. The upshot: an R&B chart-topper. Nine more hits followed on Exclusive over the next three years, including the schmaltzy "Got a Right to Cry," the often-covered "Tanya" (Chicago guitarist Earl Hooker waxed a delicious version), and "Roll 'Em."
In 1950, Joe joined his brother Jimmy at Specialty Records. More hits immediately followed: "Rag Mop," the number one R&B smash "Pink Champagne," "Little Joe's Boogie," and "Frankie Lee." During this period, the Honeydrippers prominently featured saxophonists Willie Jackson and James Jackson, Jr. Liggins stuck around Specialty into 1954, later turning up with solitary singles on Mercury and Aladdin. But time had passed Liggins by, at least right then; his sophisticated approach later came back into fashion, and he led a little big band until his death.
© Bill Dahl /TiVo
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The King of The Piano (Remastered)
R&B - Released by Master Tape Records on Oct 9, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roll 'Em
Jazz - Released by Black & Partner Licenses LLC on Mar 21, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Joe Liggins and the Honeydrippers (Hd Remastered)
Blues - Released by Reborn recordings on Jul 11, 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Honeydripper (Hd Remastered)
Blues - Released by Reborn recordings on Jul 11, 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Saturday Night Boogie Woogie Man
Soul - Released by PnR on Jan 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo