Saunders Samuel King
b. March 13th, 1909 in Staple (Louisiana)
d. August 31st, 2000 in Oakland (California)
WHAT'S YOUR STORY MORNING GLORY
Blues Boy
THE FIRST KING OF THE BLUES
Ace
COOL BLUES, JUMPS AND SHUFFLES
Ace
S.K. BLUES
P-Vine
June 1942 - February 1954
CHRONOLOGICAL 1942 - 1948
Classics
June 1942 - December 1948
CHRONOLOGICAL 1948 - 1954
Classics
1948 - February 1954
Originaire de Louisiane, fils de prêcheur, Saunders apprend le chant à l'église. La famille déménage rapidement en Californie. Basé à Oakland, il apprend plusieurs instruments comme le piano, le banjo et l'ukulele. Ce n'est que vers 1938-39 qu'il se mettra à la guitare qui deviendra son instrument favori. Il est particulièrement influencé par le style élégant du jazzman Charlie Christian. Entretemps, il intègre la formation des Southern Harmony Four - un quartet de gospel - qui se produit sur la radio NBC. En juin 1942, Saunders débute sa carrière discographique pour le label Rhythm de Dave Rosenbaum. Il s'y impose comme un bon représentant du jump-blues se partageant entre ballade jazzy et rhythm & blues. Son "S.K. blues" en deux parties sera un succès et reste son morceau le plus connu. Mais d'autres titres méritent d'être cités : "Jive at eleven five", "S.K. jumps", "The atom leaps", "Swingin'". D'autres semblent nettement plus datés aujourd'hui. Il reste éloigné des studios assez longtemps à cause d'une conjonction d'événements : la grève de l'American Federation of Musicians et les restrictions diverses dûes à la guerre. De plus, sa femme se suicide à cette période. Il semble avoir participé à des séances pour le compte de Decca en 1944-45 mais, malheureusement, le matériel demeurera inédit. Malgré ces événements difficiles, Saunders retrouve les studios pour Rhythm, Cava-Tone ("Nobody wants me"), Modern ("Empty bedroom blues"), Aladdin ("Little girl") et Flair ("Goin' mad"). Après un dernier simple en 1961 pour Galaxy, il abandonne la musique et se consacre à sa paroisse. Les 2 CDs proposés par Classics reprennent l'intégralité de son oeuvre entre 1942 et 1954. Les autres disques sont d'intéressantes sélections. On préfèrera probablement "Cool blues, jumps and shuffles" relativement facile à trouver.
Originally from Louisiana, the son of a preacher, Saunders learns singing in church. The family soon moved to California. Based in Oakland, he learns more instruments like the piano, banjo and ukulele. It was not until 1938-1939 that he will start the guitar which became his favorite instrument. He is particularly influenced by the elegant style of the jazzman Charlie Christian. Meanwhile, he integrates The Southern Harmony Four - a gospel quartet - which sings on NBC radio. In june 1942, Saunders began his recording career for the Rhythm label owned by Dave Rosenbaum. There, he stands out as a good representative of the jump-blues sharing his music between jazzy ballad and rhythm & blues. His "S.K. blues" in two parts will be a success and remains his best-known song. But other titles worth listening : "Jive at eleven five", "S.K. jumps", "The atom leaps", "Swingin'". Others seem much more dated today. He remains far from the studios long enough because of a combination of events : strike of the American Federation of Musicians and the various restrictions due to the war. In addition, his wife committed suicide during this period. He seems to have taken part in sessions on behalf of Decca in 1944-45 but unfortunately the material remain unissued. Despite those difficult events, Saunders finds again the studios for Rhythm, Cava-Tone ("Nobody wants me"), Modern ("Empty bedroom blues"), Aladdin ("Little girl") and Flair ("Goin' mad"). After a last single in 1961 for Galaxy, he abandoned music and devoted himself to his parish. The 2 CDs edited by Classics compile the entirety of his work between 1942 and 1954. Other discs are interesting selections. Probably be preferred "Cool blues jumps and shuffles" relatively easy to find.