Andrew Odom

Andrew Odom (December 15, 1936 – December 23, 1991) was a Chicago blues and electric blues singer and songwriter from Denham Springs, Louisiana, US, best known for the close resemblance of his singing style to that of Bobby Bland and B.B. King.[1][3] He recorded three solo albums in his lifetime and performed regularly around Chicago and further afield until his death.

Andrew Odom
Also known asVoice, Andrew "Big Voice" Odom, B.B., Little B.B., B.B. Junior,[1][2] B.B. Odom, B.B. Andrew
BornDecember 15, 1936
Denham Springs, Louisiana, United States
DiedDecember 23, 1991(1991-12-23) (aged 55)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
GenresChicago blues, electric blues, soul blues[1]
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1955–1991
Associated actsEarl Hooker Jimmy Dawkins Magic Slim

Life and career

Odom, who was African-American, was born in Denham Springs, Louisiana, United States, the son of Lula Odom on December 15, 1936.[2] He learned to sing at his family's church.[4] In 1955, he relocated to East St. Louis, Illinois,[5] and began working with Albert King and Johnny Williams.[1][4][5] In the late 1950s he sang with Johnny O'Neal's band.[6] Through O'Neal he met Earl Hooker, with whom he recorded and performed for a number of years.[1]

In 1960, he moved to Chicago, which was his home for the rest of his life. The following year, he recorded "East St. Louis" with the Little Aaron Band for a small label, Marlo Records.[1][5] Another single of Odom's, "Turn On Your Love Light", credited to Andre Odom, was released by Nation Records in 1967.[1][7]

Hooker, after being released from the hospital in 1968, assembled a new band and began performing in Chicago clubs and touring, against his doctor's advice. The band, with Odom as the vocalist and the pianist Pinetop Perkins, the harmonica player Carey Bell, the bassist Geno Skaggs and the steel guitar player Freddie Roulette, was "widely acclaimed" and "considered one of the best Earl had ever carried with him".[8] On the recommendation of Buddy Guy, Arhoolie Records recorded 2 Bugs and a Roach by Hooker and his new band.[9] Hooker's album Don't Have to Worry (1969) included instrumental selections and songs with vocals by Odom, Johnny "Big Moose" Walker, and Hooker. It has been said that the session had a "coherence and consistency" that helped make the album part of Hooker's "finest musical legacy".[10]

Odom's debut album, Farther On Down the Road (recorded in 1969 and released in 1973), included his version of "Farther Up the Road", with accompaniment throughout by Hooker on guitar and Johnny "Big Moose" Walker on keyboards.[1][11]

After Hooker's death, in April 1970, Odom worked for the next decade as a singer with Jimmy Dawkins. In 1971, Delmark Records released Dawkins's second album, All for Business, with Odom on vocals and Otis Rush on guitar.[4][12] In 1974, Wasp Records issued the single "I Got This Bad Feeling", credited to B.B. Odom and the Earbenders.[13]

In 1982, Odom recorded his second solo album, Feel So Good, with accompaniment by Magic Slim and the Teardrops, which was issued by the small French record label Black & Blue Records. It was reissued by Evidence Music in 1993.[1]

Flying Fish Records released Odom's third album, Goin' to California, in 1991. The album, co-produced by Steve Freund and including guitar accompaniment by Steve Katz, has been considered Odom's best recorded work.[1][4]

On December 23, 1991, Odom suffered a fatal heart attack while driving from the blues club Buddy Guy's Legends to his next scheduled appearance at the Checkerboard Lounge. He was dead on arrival at Cook County Hospital, in Chicago.[1][2]

Some of his work appeared on the compilation album The Chicago Blues Box: The MCM Records Story.[14]

Discography

Albums
YearTitleRecord label
1969Farther On Down the RoadBluesWay Records
1982Feel So GoodEvidence Music
1991Goin' to CaliforniaFlying Fish Records

[15]

As sideman
YearTitleArtist/BandRecord labelRef.
19692 Bugs and a RoachEarl HookerArhoolie Records
1969Don't Have to WorryEarl HookerBluesWay Records
1991The 2120 SessionsAndré ChristovamEstúdio Eldorado (Brazil)[16]

See also

References
  1. Dahl, Bill. "Andrew Odom: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  2. Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-313-34424-4. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  3. "Andrew Odom". Rhapsody.com. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  4. "Andrew Odom". Allaboutbluesmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  5. "St. Louis Blues and Jazz Hall of Fame". Bluesworld.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  6. Danchin, Sebastian (2010). Earl Hooker, Blues Master. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-62846-841-0.
  7. "Andre Odom – Turn On Your Love Light". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  8. Danchin 2001, p. 251.
  9. Strachwitz 1998, p. 1.
  10. Danchin 2001, p. 281.
  11. "Andrew Odom, Farther on the Road: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  12. Dahl, Bill. "Jimmy Dawkins: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  13. "B B Odom with the Ear Benders* – I Got This Bad Feeling / Memo Blues". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  14. Leggett, Steve. "Various artists, The Chicago Blues Box: The MCM Records Story: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  15. "Andrew Odom: Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  16. "André Christovam - The 2120 Sessions". Discogs.

Bibliography
  • Strachwitz, Chris (1998). The Moon Is Rising (album notes). Earl Hooker. Arhoolie Records. CD 468.
  • Danchin, Sebastian (2001). Earl Hooker: Blues Master. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 1-57806-306-X.
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