b. January 28th, 1933 in Bishopville (South Carolina)
I KNOW MY BLUES ARE DIFFERENT
Southland
May 1972
Autodidacte à la guitare et au piano, il joue d'abord sur une guitare que lui a donné son oncle pendant l'enfance. Il chante dans un groupe de Gospel local. Avec les années, il devient un excellent guitariste renommé dans le domaine du Gospel jouant avec The Six Stars, The Golden Five et The Spiritualaires. En 1959, il enregistre un simple pour le label Sharp ("I love you Alberta" et "Cold cold rain"). Mais, il lui faut attendre 1972 pour graver un premier album complet. Cet album de blues acoustique - où brillent ses talents de guitariste - contient de superbes morceaux comme "Bowlegged woman", "You can call me country", "My rod", "Hangover blues", "Ugly woman blues", "Liquor and women", "You make me feel so good".
Self-taught on guitar and piano, he first played on a guitar given to him by his uncle during childhood. He sings in a local Gospel group. Over the years, he became an excellent renowned guitarist in the Gospel field playing with The Six Stars, The Golden Five and The Spiritualaires. In 1959, he recorded a single for the Sharp label ("I love you Alberta" and "Cold cold rain"). But, he had to wait until 1972 to cut a first full album. This acoustic blues album - where his guitarist talents shine - contains superb songs like "Bowlegged woman", "You can call me country", "My rod", "Hangover blues", "Ugly woman blues", "Liquor and women", "You make me feel so good".
BLUES DOCTOR : LIVE & OUTRAGEOUS
Erwin
October 1986 - February 1988
Bandes live récupérées par Gary Erwin ayant fait l'objet d'une cassette puis reprise en CD plus tard. Entre Blues et Gospel, il y a une ferveur brulante et contagieuse dans ces titres. Il y a beaucoup d'interactions et de communications entre le public et Drink Small. Le programme est un peu hétérogène mais mérite l'écoute en particulier de beaux blues comme "Charleston women blues" et "Stormy monday blues", une reprise déjantée du "I feel good" de James Brown, une longue lecture de "I stand accused".
Live tapes captured by Gary Erwin having been the subject of a cassette then reissued on CD later. Between Blues and Gospel, there is a burning and contagious fervor in these titles. There is a lot of interaction and communication between the public and Drink Small. The program is a bit heterogeneous but deserves to listen in particular to beautiful blues like "Charleston women blues" and "Stormy monday blues", a crazy cover of "I feel good" by James Brown, a long reading of "I stand accused".
ELECTRIC BLUES DOCTOR LIVE
Mapleshade
October 1988
Concert capté à Washington par le label Mapleshade. Très similaire à l'album précédent, la ferveur et la chaleur en moins. Un disque plutôt plaisant mais souvent ennuyeux. On retrouve les nombreuses interactions entre le bluesman et son public mais trop de bavardages finit par ennuyer.
Concert captured in Washington by the Mapleshade label. Very similar to the previous album but less fervor and warmth. A rather pleasant but often boring record. There are many interactions between the bluesman and his audience but too much chatter ends up boring.
THE BLUES DOCTOR
Ichiban
1990
Premier disque pour Ichiban avec les producteurs Charles Derrick et Bryan Cole. Mix très efficace de Delta Blues, Soul et Gospel que domine sa superbe voix grave. Une set-list très consistante de laquelle on peut ressortir les remarquables "Tittie man", "So bad", "Rub my belly", "Baby leave your panties home", "I'm going to move to the outskirts of town".
First record for Ichiban with producers Charles Derrick and Bryan Cole. Very effective mix of Delta Blues, Soul and Gospel dominated by his superb deep voice. A very consistent set-list from which we can highlight the remarkable "Tittie man", "So bad", "Rub my belly", "Baby leave your panties home", "I'm going to move to the outskirts of town".
ROUND TWO
Ichiban
1991
Second album pour Ichiban produit par Bryan Cole et construit comme le premier. Bon set de Blues électrique avec une coloration Rhythm & Blues ("Thank you pretty baby") ou Funk-Soul ("Don't let nobody else"). Mais Drink Small se montre aussi très convaincant sur des blues terriens très excitants comme "Widow woman" et "Bishopville woman".
Second album for Ichiban produced by Bryan Cole and built like the first. Good set of electric Blues with Rhythm & Blues ("Thank you pretty baby") or Funk-Soul ("Don't let nobody else") elements. But Drink Small is also very convincing on very exciting down home blues like "Widow woman" and "Bishopville woman".
TREASURE BOX
Music Maker
May 1997
HALLELUJAH BOOGALOO
Music Maker
1997 - 2005
Il y a plusieurs titres qui avaient été publiés sur diverses anthologies Music Maker. Le programme de ce recueil a été gravé entre 1997 et 2005 pour la Fondation Music Maker. Le disque offre un bon panorama - quoiqu'un peu inégal - des capacités de ce guitariste versatile capable d'aborder différents styles. On retient notamment "Widow woman", "So sweet", "Woman love a man that can play the slide", "Greenback".
There are several titles that had been issued on various Music Maker anthologies. The program of this collection was engraved between 1997 and 2005 for the Music Maker Foundation. The album offers a good overview - albeit a little uneven - of the capacities of this versatile guitarist able to approach different styles. We note in particular "Widow woman", "So sweet", "Woman love a man that can play the slide", "Greenback".
DOES IT ALL
Bishopville
2003
Entre Piedmont Blues, Delta Blues et Gospel, Drink Small se partage alternativement entre la guitare et le piano. Inspiré, très en verve, il délivre un bon opus de Blues traditionnel. "Fish fryin' mama", "A woman is the sweetest thing god ever made", "South Carolina boogie", "You can't take the country out of me", "You got to love everybody in the world".
Between Piedmont Blues, Delta Blues and Gospel, Drink Small is shared alternately between guitar and piano. Inspired, very lively, he delivers a good opus of traditional Blues. "Fish fryin' mama", "A woman is the sweetest thing god ever made", "South Carolina boogie", "You can't take the country out of me", "You got to love everybody in the world".
THE LAST & LOST BLUES SURVIVORS
Music Maker
2000's
Une superbe version de "Widow woman" gravé pour la Fondation Music Maker de Tim & Denise Duffy.
A superb version of "Widow woman" recorded for the Music Maker Foundation of Tim & Denise Duffy.
DRINK HOUSE TO CHURCH HOUSE vol.2
Music Maker
2000's
SLAVERY, PRISON, WOMEN, GOD AND WHISKEY
Music Maker
2000's
Deux titres remarquables enregistrés pour Music Maker : "Moanin'" et surtout l'irrésistible "Tied tongue blues" en compagnie de Cootie Stark.
Two remarkable titles recorded for Music Maker : "Moanin'" and especially the irresistible "Tied tongue blues" with Cootie Stark.
TRYIN' TO SURVIVE AT 75
Bishopville
2008
Drink Small montre dans cet album que, malgré son âge, il reste un remarquable bluesman doté d'une belle voix grave et d'une solide technique à la guitare. Piedmont blues, pièces religieuses, quelques morceaux un peu longs mais un album fort sympathique au demeurant.
Drink Small shows in this album that, despite his age, he remains an outstanding bluesman with a beautiful deep voice and a solid technique on guitar. Piedmont blues, religious pieces, some songs a bit long but a very nice album moreover.