Soko Richardson

Infobox musical artist
Name = Soko Richardson


Img_capt = Soko on back cover of John Mayall album, "The Latest Edition". Photography and design by John Mayall, 1974
Img_size = 180
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
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Born = birth date|1939|12|8|df=y
Died = death date and age|2004|1|29|1939|12|8|df=y
Origin = New Iberia, Louisiana, U.S.
Instrument = Drums
Genre = Blues, R&B, Blues Rock, Rock, Soul
Occupation = drummer, percussionist, arranger
Years_active = 1955 - 2004
Label =
Associated_acts = John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, The Ike & Tina Turner Revue
URL =
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Past_members =
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Soko Richardson (December 8, 1939 – January 29, 2004) was an influential rhythm and blues drummer. His career spanned almost fifty years, during which he performed and recorded with seminal groups including John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. He is perhaps best known for his innovative arrangement of the Ike and Tina version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song, Proud Mary. [http://lists.drizzle.com/pipermail/postcard2/20040130/021485.html Soko Richardson] press release from [http://www.pressnetwork.com pressnetwork.com] Fri Jan 30, 2004] [http://www.paiste.com/news/viewnews.php?newsid=4 Noted Soul Drummer Soko Richardson Dies] February, 2004]

Biography

Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, Richardson began his musical career at the age of 16, when he left home to tour the South with local bands. Shortly thereafter Ike Turner, upon hearing Richardson play in Texas, hired him to play with his band, Kings of Rhythm, and then later with The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Richardson worked with Turner for the next ten years. In March 1971 Richardson's arrangement of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song, "Proud Mary" reached number four on the pop charts, and number five on the R&B charts. The song became a signature song for Tina Turner, and won the band a Grammy for "Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Group.""The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll" (Revised edition, 2001) New York, Fireside/Simon & Schuster. pp.1010 ISBN 0-7432-0120-5]

In 1971 Richardson joined John Mayall's legendary Bluesbreakers, with whom he would tour and record for the next decade, playing with many of the diverse artists to whom Mayall gave a start. [http://www.classicwebs.com/mayall.htm John Mayall's Bluesbreakers] accessed March 7, 2007] [http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/m/mayall.html John Mayall Albums] accessed March 7, 2007] "The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll" pp.621]

In the mid-1980s, Richardson joined Albert Collins and the Icebreakers, and became an influential member of the Chicago Blues scene. He helped earn the Icebreakers the coveted WC Handy Award as Blues Band of The Year in 1985.

Over the years Richardson recorded with many other artists, including Bluesman Pee Wee Crayton, R&B star Bobby Womack and renowned English guitarist Terry Reid, with whom he was recording an album at the time of his death. Though limited by health problems in later years, he continued to perform and record, and sit in on jam sessions with friends. He played his last gig a few weeks before his death, at a club with Reid.

Richardson died in the early hours of January 29th in his home in Los Angeles, from complications ofdiabetes. He was 64. [http://www.johnmayall.com/news.html John Mayall Newsletter] accessed March 7, 2007]

Partial Discography

With Ike and Tina Turner

*1966 - "River Deep - Mountain High" - Ike & Tina Turner
*1969 - "A Black Man's Soul" - Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm (Pompeii Records)
*1971 - "What You Hear Is What You Get" - Ike & Tina Turner (EMI) live
*1991 - "Proud Mary, The Best Of Ike & Tina Turner" (Capitol)

With John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers

*1974 - "The Latest Edition" (Polydor)
*1975 - "New Year, New Band, New Company" (ABC - One Way)
*1975 - "Notice to Appear" (ABC - One Way)
*1976 - "Banquet in Blues" (ABC - One Way)
*1977 - "A Hard Core Package" (ABC - One Way)
*1978 - "Last of the British Blues" (ABC - OneWay) live
*1982 - "Road Show Blues" (DJM)

With Albert Collins

*1988 - "In Concert" (MVD) live DVD
*1991 - "Iceman" (Virgin)

Various others

*1992 - "Guitars That Rule the World" - Various Artists (Metal Blade)
*1994 - "Chess Rhythm & Roll" - Various (Chess)
*2003 - "Anthology" - Bobby Womack (The Right Stuff)

References

External links

* [http://www.lifeinlegacy.com/2004/WIR20040207.html#D40 Life in Legacy - Week of February 7, 2004] picture of Soko Richardson