Clarence Edwards (blues musician)

Clarence Edwards
Born	March 25, 1933(1933-03-25) Lindsay, Louisiana, United States
Died	May 20, 1993(1993-05-20) (aged 60) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Genres	Swamp blues, Louisiana blues, electric blues
Occupations	Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	Mid 1950s–1993
Labels	Various

Clarence Edwards (March 25, 1933 – May 20, 1993) was an American blues musician from Louisiana, best known for his recordings of "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" and "I Want Somebody".^[1] It was not until the late 1980s that Edwards was able to establish his reputation as a blues performer, assisted by his producer and manager Steven Coleridge.^[2]

Biography

Edwards was born in Lindsay, Louisiana, one of fourteen children, and relocated with his family at the age of twelve to Baton Rouge. He joined the Boogie Beats, a local blues band, alongside one of his brothers, Cornelius, in the mid 1950s, and later played in the Bluebird Kings. Apart from playing on the local blues circuit, Edwards was shot in his leg during a fracas outside a club in Alsen.^[3]

Initially, Edwards found full time employment on a farm, but later worked for thirty years at Thomas Scrap.^[3] Dr. Harry Oster recorded Edwards between 1959 and 1961, with Cornelius, and attendant violin player Butch Cage.^[2] By 1970, when he next recorded for Mike Vernon, Edwards had moved from an older styling to a more contemporary approach.^[4] Largely unknown until the late 1980s, his localised playing quickly spilled over to the national blues festival circuit.^[3]

Swampin' (1991), and Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 4 (1993), showcased the variety of Edwards' work and style, which garnered appreciation in the blues circles. However in May 1993, he died in his adopted hometown of Scotlandville, Louisiana, at the age of 60.^[3]

Following his demise, Edwards' earlier work, Swamps the Word, was remastered and reissued on CD.^[3] In 2003 the compilation album, I Looked Down That Railroad was released.^[4]

Discography

• Swampin' (1991) - New Rose Records
• Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 4 (1993) - Wolf Records
• Swamps the Word (1998) - Blues Factory
• I Looked Down That Railroad (2003) - Last Call^[5]

See also

• List of swamp blues musicians
• List of Louisiana blues musicians

References

1. ^ Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed August 2010
2. ^ ^{a b} Herzhaft, Gérard (1997). Encyclopedia of the blues (2nd ed.). Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press. p. 144. ISBN 1-55728-452-0. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Huey, Steve. "Clarence Edwards". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p33883/biography. Retrieved August 19, 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Oldies.com
5. ^ "Allmusic ((( Clarence Edwards > Discography > Main Albums )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p33883/discography. 

External links

• Discography details

Persondata
Name	Edwards, Clarence
Alternative names
Short description	American blues musician
Date of birth	March 25, 1933
Place of birth	Lindsay, Louisiana, United States
Date of death	May 20, 1993
Place of death	Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States