b. January 1st, 1947 in Paris (Texas)

d. February 14th, 1994 in Center (Texas)

NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES

Mr B's

Ichiban

Krazy Kat

May 1986

Propriétaire d'un magasin de disques, promoteur, musicien de studio, multi-instrumentiste, producteur, découvreur de talent, ses talents sont nombreux. A l'adolescence, il fréquente Freddie King puis Lightnin' Hopkins. En 1985, Gary monte son propre label Mr B's où parait son premier simple et son premier album. Il rencontre John Abbey qui lui permet de rejoindre la firme Ichiban qui réédite son album. Très influencé par B.B. King et Albert King, Gary "B.B." Coleman use d'un son de guitare chaleureux et élégant. Un musique Soul-Blues bien produite - plaisante et agréable - bien que parfois un peu lisse.

Record store owner, promoter, studio musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, talent scout, his talents are numerous. As a teenager, he frequent Freddie King then Lightnin' Hopkins. In 1985, Gary formed his own label Mr B's and issued his first single and his first album. He met John Abbey enabling him to join Ichiban firm which reissued his album. Very influenced by B.B. King and Albert King, Gary "B.B." Coleman uses a warm and elegant guitar sound. A Soul-Blues music well-produced - pleasant and enjoyable - although sometimes a little flat.

IF YOU CAN BEAT ME ROCKIN'

Ichiban

1988

Comme d'habitude, Gary est son propre producteur et joue de presque tous les instruments (guitare, basse, harmonica). Il a placé dans ce disque quelques compositions personnelles variées et inspirées comme le dansant "Watch where you stroke", l'excellent "Cloud nine", "If the washing don't get you", "If you can't beat me rockin'" ainsi qu'une sympathique reprise du "Hideaway" de Freddie King. Dans l'ensemble, le disque est dense et consistant. Devenu le producteur maison d'Ichiban et son découvreur de talents dédié, Gary "B.B." Coleman promeut et supervise de nombreux artistes tels que son ami d'enfance "Blues Boy" Willie ou Chick Willis, "Little" Johnny Taylor, Buster Benton, Trudy Lynn, Travis "Moonchild" Haddix et d'autres.

As usual, Gary is his own producer and plays almost all the instruments (guitar, bass, harmonica). He placed a few personal varied and inspired compositions on this disc like the dancing "Watch where you stroke", the excellent "Cloud nine", "If the washing don't get you", "If you can't beat me rockin'" and a nice cover of "Hideaway" by Freddie King. Overall, the whole album is dense and consistent. Became the house-producer of Ichiban and his dedicated talent scout, Gary "B.B." Coleman promotes and oversees many artists such as his childhood friend "Blues Boy" Willie or Chick Willis, "Little" Johnny Taylor, Buster Benton, Trudy Lynn, Travis "Moonchild" Haddix and others.

THE BEST OF GARY "B.B." COLEMAN

Ichiban

1988

Cette compilation est agrémentée de titres inédits provenant des séances de "If you can't beat me rockin'" : "Merry Christmas baby" et l'instrumental "Christmas blues".

This compilation is enhanced with unreleased tracks from the "If you can't beat me rockin'" sessions : "Merry Christmas baby" and the instrumental "Christmas blues".

ONE NIGHT STAND

Ichiban

1988

Une nouvelle tranche de Soul-Blues chaude et élégante quoique peu originale. Derrière Gary (voix, guitare, claviers, harmonica), on trouve Craig Gould (claviers), Roy Anderson (guitare), "Funky" John Cole (basse) et Nathaniel Jenkins (batterie).

A new slice of warm and elegant Soul-Blues though not original. Behind Gary (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica), we find Craig Gould (keyboards), Roy Anderson (guitar), "Funky" John Cole (bass) and Nathaniel Jenkins (drums).

DANCIN' MY BLUES AWAY

Ichiban

1989

Pour une fois, Gary se consacre seulement au chant et à la guitare. On note aussi l'apparition d'une section cuivres (Ernie Baker, Doug Bristol, Ted Dortch) sur certains morceaux. Quelques excellents moments méritent d'être signalés : "A word of warning", "Think before you act", "Dancin' my blues away" et une reprise correcte de "Blues at sunrise".

For once, Gary focuses only on vocals and guitar. We also note the appearance of a horn section (Ernie Baker, Doug Bristol, Ted Dortch) on some titles. Some excellent moments worth noting : "A word of warning", "Think before you act", "Dancin' my blues away" and a decent cover of "Blues at sunrise".

ROMANCE WITHOUT FINANCE IS A NUISANCE

Ichiban

1991

Superbe à la guitare, empruntant aussi bien à B.B. King qu'à Albert King, Gary "B.B." Coleman donne, encore une fois, un disque solide avec plusieurs morceaux très convaincants : "She ain't ugly", "Don't give away that recipe", "Food stamp Annie", "Dealin' from the bottom of the desk" sans oublier l'épatant instrumental final "Mr B's frosting".

Superb on guitar, borrowing to both B.B. King and Albert King, Gary "B.B." Coleman gives, again, a solid album with several very convincing songs : "She ain't ugly", "Don't give away that recipe", "Food stamp Annie", "Dealin' from the bottom of the desk" without forgetting the final amazing instrumental "Mr B's frosting".

TOO MUCH WEEKEND

Ichiban

1992

Dernier album de sa fructueuse collaboration avec Ichiban. Il y a cette fois une grosse influence Funk avec une section rythmique mixée en avant (Lebron Scott, Bryan Cole) : "Too much weekend", "The Elk slide". Mais, on trouve aussi du pur Blues comme sur "Welfare Cadillac" avec l'intervention de l'harmoniciste Jerry Mac Cain.

Last album of his fruitful collaboration with Ichiban. This time, there is a big Funk influence with a rhythm section mixed in the foreground (Lebron Scott, Bryan Cole) : "Too much weekend", "The Elk slide". But there are also pure Blues as on "Welfare Cadillac" with the intervention of the harmonica player Jerry Mac Cain.

COCAINE ANNIE

Icehouse

1994

Après un beau travail chez Ichiban, Gary se tourne vers un nouveau label, Icehouse. Pour autant, il conserve le son entre Soul sudiste et Blues avec une production au point. "Sleeper", "I'm gonna find her", "Baby please come home", "I no somethings on your mind" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments de l'album. Alors que ce disque semblait ouvrir un nouveau chapitre de sa carrière (après la période Ichiban), il décède brutalement au début de l'année 1994.

After a nice work at Ichiban, Gary turns to a new label, Icehouse. However, he keeps his sound between Southern Soul and Blues with a tuned up production. "Sleeper", "I'm gonna find her", "Baby please come home", "I no somethings on your mind" are among the highlights of the album. While this disc seemed to open a new chapter in his career (after the Ichiban period), he died suddenly at the beginning of 1994.