American Blues Tapestries
Description: Robert Johnson was an itinerant Delta blues singer and guitarist who lived from 1911 to 1938. He recorded 29 songs between '36 and ‘37 for the American Record Corporation, which released eleven 78rpm records on their Vocalion label during Johnson's lifetime, and one after his death. Like many bluesmen of his day, Johnson plied his craft on street corners and in juke joints, ever rambling and ever lonely, all while writing songs that romanticized that existence. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Johnson accomplished this with such an unprecedented intensity, marrying his starkly expressive vocals with a guitar mastery, that his music has endured beyond his short life.
Description: Bille Holiday was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills.
Description: Nat King Cole (1919-1965) was a highly successful and influential jazz pianist and vocalist. Initially renowned for his innovative piano trio, Cole transitioned to become a popular mainstream singer with a smooth, distinctive baritone voice. His numerous hit songs, including "Unforgettable" and "The Christmas Song," crossed racial barriers and garnered him a wide audience. Despite facing racial prejudice, Cole hosted his own television show, a groundbreaking achievement for a Black entertainer at the time, solidifying his legacy as a musical icon and a pioneer in the entertainment industry.
Description: William Rory Gallagher (/ˈrɔːri ˈɡæləhər/ GAL-ə-hər; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, and brought up in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste during the late 1960s. His albums have sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
