Last updated: 5 hours ago
Pianist Joe Liggins and his band, <a href="spotify:artist:48a17wukUChf44S5NQg7aH">the Honeydrippers</a>, tore up the R&B charts during the late '40s and early '50s with their polished brand of polite R&B. Liggins scored massive hits with "The Honeydripper" in 1945 and "Pink Champagne" five years later, posting a great many more solid sellers in between.
Born in Oklahoma, Liggins moved to San Diego in 1932. He moved to Los Angeles in 1939 and played with various outfits, including Sammy Franklin's California Rhythm Rascals. When Franklin took an unwise pass on recording Liggins' infectious "The Honeydripper," the bespectacled pianist assembled his own band and waxed the tune for <a href="spotify:artist:3ctxX7dZ1s6qXdGRkfgvKT">Leon René</a>'s <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Exclusive%22">Exclusive</a> logo. The upshot: an R&B chart-topper. Nine more hits followed on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Exclusive%22">Exclusive</a> over the next three years, including the schmaltzy "Got a Right to Cry," the often-covered "Tanya" (Chicago guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:3Ev1WS21x5Jav9j214A19O">Earl Hooker</a> waxed a delicious version), and "Roll 'Em."
In 1950, Joe joined his brother <a href="spotify:artist:5vBfHviQ6oBuIJw4yZ1NNF">Jimmy</a> at <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Specialty+Records%22">Specialty Records</a>. More hits immediately followed: "Rag Mop," the number one R&B smash "Pink Champagne," "Little Joe's Boogie," and "Frankie Lee." During this period, <a href="spotify:artist:48a17wukUChf44S5NQg7aH">the Honeydrippers</a> prominently featured saxophonists Willie Jackson and James Jackson, Jr. Liggins stuck around <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Specialty%22">Specialty</a> into 1954, later turning up with solitary singles on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Mercury%22">Mercury</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Aladdin%22">Aladdin</a>. But time had passed Liggins by, at least right then; his sophisticated approach later came back into fashion, and he led a little big band until his death. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi
Born in Oklahoma, Liggins moved to San Diego in 1932. He moved to Los Angeles in 1939 and played with various outfits, including Sammy Franklin's California Rhythm Rascals. When Franklin took an unwise pass on recording Liggins' infectious "The Honeydripper," the bespectacled pianist assembled his own band and waxed the tune for <a href="spotify:artist:3ctxX7dZ1s6qXdGRkfgvKT">Leon René</a>'s <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Exclusive%22">Exclusive</a> logo. The upshot: an R&B chart-topper. Nine more hits followed on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Exclusive%22">Exclusive</a> over the next three years, including the schmaltzy "Got a Right to Cry," the often-covered "Tanya" (Chicago guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:3Ev1WS21x5Jav9j214A19O">Earl Hooker</a> waxed a delicious version), and "Roll 'Em."
In 1950, Joe joined his brother <a href="spotify:artist:5vBfHviQ6oBuIJw4yZ1NNF">Jimmy</a> at <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Specialty+Records%22">Specialty Records</a>. More hits immediately followed: "Rag Mop," the number one R&B smash "Pink Champagne," "Little Joe's Boogie," and "Frankie Lee." During this period, <a href="spotify:artist:48a17wukUChf44S5NQg7aH">the Honeydrippers</a> prominently featured saxophonists Willie Jackson and James Jackson, Jr. Liggins stuck around <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Specialty%22">Specialty</a> into 1954, later turning up with solitary singles on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Mercury%22">Mercury</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Aladdin%22">Aladdin</a>. But time had passed Liggins by, at least right then; his sophisticated approach later came back into fashion, and he led a little big band until his death. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi
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