BLUES N'AT

     This week the Westminster Kennel Club holds their annual Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. In honor of the occasion, Mrs. Black-N-Gold celebrates the foot-stompin', good-time music of the late great Hound Dog Taylor and The Houserockers.

     Theodore Roosevelt Taylor was born in Natchez, MS on April 12, 1915. In his younger days, Hound Dog played piano, not taking up the guitar until he was 20. In 1942 he moved to the blues capital of the north, Chicago, IL.

      He didn't become a full-time musician until 1957. Even then, Hound Dog was not well known outside of Chicago where he played in the clubs and bars of the black neighborhoods and at the famous Maxwell Street Market with his band The HouseRockers. His slide guitar work was influenced by Elmore James. Word spread around the Windy City of the six-fingered guitar player as he was born with six digits on his left hand.

      In the late 1960s, Hound Dog traveled to Europe to perform at the American Folk Blues Festival. He returned to the Chicago area and continued to entertain Chicagoans with his band mates Brewer Phillips on guitar and Ted Harvey on drums. A fellow named Bruce Iglauer was so impressed with the raucous blues of Hound Dog and the HouseRockers that in 1970 he started his own label, Alligator Records, so he could record the group. The debut album "Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers" was released in 1971. Iglauer managed and booked the band nationwide, appearing with such luminaries as Big Mama Thornton and Muddy Waters. The band were the featured performers for several years at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival and were garnering accolades from several different publications.

     The band had a loyal following in the Boston area, where Hound Dog influenced a young George Thorogood. Several years later, George would give a shoutout to Hound Dog on his "Live" album.

     Hound Dog released his second Alligator album, "Natural Boogie" in 1973, continuing to build a strong following across the country. "Beware Of The Dog" was a live album recorded in 1974. Hound Dog passed away from lung cancer at age 60 on December 17, 1975.  The live album was released shortly thereafter and earned a Grammy nomination.

      In 1984, the Blues Hall Of Fame honored Hound Dog by inducting him posthumously. The Blues Foundation named his debut album the Classics Of Blues Recording Award in 1996. Alligator released "Hound Dog Taylor-A Tribute" honoring the man who helped put their label on the blues map, in 1998. Artists who contributed to the album included Elvin Bishop, Lil' Ed and The Blues Imperials, and Ronnie Earl.

      Today, Hound Dog's "genuine houserockin' music" continues to leave it's imprint all over the Alligator label as well as all over blues music in general. Anywhere there's a foot-stompin', house rockin' good time, you can be sure that Hound Dog Taylor helped get those tails waggin'. Until next time, boys and girls. Keep It Bluesy!