b. February 4th, 1924 in Vivian (West Virginia)
d. July 24th, 1997 in New York (New York)
BICYCLE BOOGIE
Moonshine
1952 - 1955 / 1958 - 1959
Bob Gaddy a appris le piano dès son plus jeune âge et joue à l'église. Entre 1943 et 1946, il sert dans la Navy en Californie. Il en profite pour jouer dans les clubs de San Francisco ou d'Oakland. En mai 1946, Bob s'installe à New York et se mêle à la scène blues locale en particulier avec Brownie Mac Ghee, Sonny Terry, Larry Dale et "Champion" Jack Dupree. Bob Gaddy fait ses premiers pas en tant que leader dès 1952, enregistrant pour les labels Jackson (dirigé par Morty Shad), Jax, Dot et Harlem. Sur ce microsillon, on retrouve ses premiers titres (un simple pour chaque label) gravés entre 1952 et 1955 en particulier les excitants "Bicycle boogie" (avec Brownie Mac Ghee & Sonny Terry) et "Little girl's boogie". L'autre moitié du disque est consacrée à d'autres bluesmen.
Bob Gaddy learned the piano since an early age and plays at local church. Between 1943 and 1946, he served in the Navy in California. He takes the opportunity to play in San Francisco or Oakland's clubs. In may 1946, Bob moved to New York and went with the local blues scene, particularly with Brownie Mac Ghee, Sonny Terry, Larry Dale and "Champion" Jack Dupree. Bob Gaddy took his first steps as a leader in 1952, recording for the Jackson (run by Morty Shad), Jax, Dot and Harlem labels. On this LP, we find some of his first titles cut between 1952 and 1955 in particular the exciting "Bicycle boogie" (with Brownie Mac Ghee & Sonny Terry) and "Little girl's boogie". The other half of the disc is devoted to other bluesmen.
RIP AND RUN
Ace
HARLEM BLUES OPERATOR
Ace
1956 - 1960
C'est en travaillant pour le label Old Town dirigé par Hy Weiss, dès 1956, que Bob Gaddy grave ses meilleurs morceaux : le superbe "Operator" (le morceau semble avoir été composé par "Champion" Jack Dupree), "I love my baby", "What would I do", "Paper lady", "Out of my name", "Stormy monday blues". Pour ces titres, Bob - superbe pianiste et chanteur - a derrière lui d'excellents musiciens comme Brownie Mac Ghee, Larry Dale, Jimmy Wright ou Jimmy Spruill. Après 1960, Bob Gaddy quitte définitivement les studios mais reste pourtant actif sur la scène locale. Il vient même en Europe lors du Blues Estafette de 1987.
It was while working for the Old Town label run by Hy Weiss, from 1956, that Bob Gaddy recorded his best songs : the superb "Operator" (this title seems to have been composed by "Champion" Jack Dupree), "I love my baby", "What would I do", "Paper lady", "Out of my name", "Stormy monday blues". For these titles, Bob - superb pianist and singer - has behind him excellent musicians like Brownie Mac Ghee, Larry Dale, Jimmy Wright or Jimmy Spruill. After 1960, Bob Gaddy leaves the studios definitively but nevertheless remains active on the local scene. He even came to Europe during the Blues Estafette in 1987.