L.C. Green

L.C. Greene (October 23, 1921 – August 24, 1985),[1] better known as L.C. Green, was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.[2]

L.C. Green
Birth nameL.C. Greene
Born(1921-10-23)October 23, 1921
Minter City, Mississippi, United States
DiedAugust 24, 1985(1985-08-24) (aged 63)
Pontiac, Michigan, United States
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1940s–1950s
LabelsDot Records, Von Records

He released four singles in 1952 and 1953 for Dot Records and Von Records, including one of the earlier versions of "Come Back Sugar Mama"[3][4]

AllMusic noted that "vocally and for his repertoire, L.C. Greene, whose records were issued without the final ‘e’ to his name, was indebted to Sonny Boy Williamson I. His amplified guitar playing is clearly Mississippi Delta-derived, but probably owes something to the popularity of fellow Detroit blues singer John Lee Hooker".[2]

Life and career

Greene was born in Minter City, Mississippi.[2]

In 1952, he and his cousin Walter Mitchell went to Gallatin, Tennessee, to record eight sides for the record producer Joe Von Battle. Mitchell sang on two of the tracks, "Little Machine" (written by Sonny Boy Williamson) and "Come Back Sugar Mama", but his main input was his harmonica accompaniment of Green's vocal and guitar work.[5] The resultant work was released on three single by Dot Records in 1952 and 1953, and another was issued by Von Records in 1953.[3] The shoestring nature of Von Battle's enterprise probably contributed to a lack of promotion and exposure for Green. He was further hampered by the fact that although his guitar playing equalled that of John Lee Hooker, he could not match his rival in commercial songwriting ability.[2]

The compilation album Blues Guitar Killers! Detroit 1950's, released in 1977, contains six tracks recorded by Green and Sam Kelly in the mid-1950s in Detroit, Michigan, again produced by Von Battle:[3] ".38 Pistol Blues", "Mary Ann Blues", "Goin' to the River" (take 2), "Hastings Street Boogie", "Things Is Goin' So Tough Today", and "Shine My Light".[6] Three of Green's tracks were included in the 2010 compilation album Let Me Tell You About the Blues: The Evolution of Detroit Blues.[7]

Green died in Pontiac, Michigan, in August 1985, aged 63. An obituary written by Jim O'Neal was printed in Living Blues magazine, issue 68, in 1986.[8]

Green was one of several notable blues guitarists who came from Leflore County, Mississippi. Other natives and one-time residents of the county were (in alphabetical order) David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Guitar Slim, Luther Johnson (Guitar Junior), Robert Johnson, Rubin Lacey, Furry Lewis, Tommy McClennan, Dion Payton, Robert Petway, Brewer Phillips, Fenton Robinson, Hubert Sumlin, and Hound Dog Taylor.[9]

Discography

Singles
YearTitleRecord label
1952"When the Sun Is Shining" / "Hold Me in Your Arms"Dot Records
1952"Little School Girl" / "Remember Way Back"Dot Records
1953"Little Machine" / "Come Back Sugar Mama"Doc Records
1953"Going Down to the River Blues" / "Ramblin Around Blues" (Sam Kelly)Von Records

[3]

References
  1. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 194. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. "L.C. Green: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  3. "Illustrated L.C. Green Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  4. "Cover Versions of 'Come Back Sugar Mama' by L.C. Green". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  5. Greensmith, Bill; Camarigg, Mark; Rowe, Mike (2015-09-30). Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews from the Original Blues Magazine. p. 172. ISBN 9780252097508. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  6. "Various artists, Blues Guitar Killers! Detroit 1950's". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  7. "Fantastic Voyage". Fantasticvoyagemusic.com. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  8. Ford, Robert (2008-03-31). A Blues Bibliography. p. 386. ISBN 9781135865085. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  9. "Furry Lewis". Msbluestrail.org. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
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