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ABOUT OUR NEW ISSUES 214
In our latest issue (#214 July) we continue the mammoth project where we aim to chronicle the musical life and activities of Big Joe Turner, a true giant in the history of the American music we cherish. In issue 210 we covered Joe’s formative years including establishing himself as a notable force in Kansas City whilst cementing his partnership with boogie-woogie pianist Pete Johnson; we concluded in December 1938 in New York where the pairing were part of the bill for John Hammond’s legendary ‘From Spirituals to Swing’ concert at the city’s magnificent Carnegie Hall.
We now move forward to cover the year 1939. Given the success of their New York appearances and the warm reception received there, Turner and Johnson decided to stay-on in New York rather than return to their roots in Kansas City. This was in the hope that more opportunities would arise in the Big Apple. They didn’t have to wait long. In January they secured a long-term engagement at the ‘Cafe Society’ club in Greenwich Village, one that was to last for several months. The club carries a fascinating history; it was opened in 1938 at Sheridan Square and advertised itself as ‘The Wrong Place for the Right People’.
It was the city’s first racially integrated nightclub, welcoming black and white audiences into the same room with both black and white performers sharing the same stage. This was not common practice at the time, the club insisted on inclusivity. John Hammond was the club’s unofficial; artistic director championing back performers, Billy Holliday was one who sung there.
It was at ‘Cafe Society’ that Turner and Johnson were joined by two other Hammond ‘discoveries’ – pianists Albert Ammons and Meade ‘Lux’ Lewis’ - both wonderful exponents of boogie-woogie –with the foursome being given the moniker ‘The Boogie Woogie Boys’. The ensemble was a roaring success.
Besides the Cafe Society engagements, August saw ‘The Boogie Woogie Boys’ (including Turner and Johnson) topping the bill with a return to Harlem’s Apollo Theatre for a week-long show. Then in December there was a rare venture away from New York for a booking at the Sherman Hotel in Chicago. It was from there that the ‘Boys’ returned to New York to be part of Hammond’s second ‘From Spirituals to Swing’ concert, again at Carnegie Hall. This capped quite a year!
It is here we conclude this instalment of Joe’s story but there is much more to come over the coming months and years. There is a great front cover with the feature presented in our acclaimed ‘day by day’ format. As always it is lavishly illustrated with contemporary photos which include superb ones of the ‘Boogie Woogie Boys’, as well as newspaper and magazine articles and ads. There are also full-colour label shots of the year’s three Johnson/Turner ‘Vocalion’ record releases. This excellent 48 page issue then rounds-off with a nice review section.
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ABOUT THE MAGAZINE
American Music Magazine is published by the Swedish Rock 'n' Roll Club. We are a non profit organisation devoted to the 1950s rock 'n' roll music and our intention is to document, as far as possible, the early years of rock-a-billy, rock 'n' roll and its related artforms. The text of the magazine is in Swedish and English. Each issue is full of original photographs and discographies.
AM works in co-operation with the "Tales From The Woods" Roots Music Social Networking Group in the U.K. The aim is to collaborate to keep rock ‘n' roll, its history, and its many talented artists and musicians alive for posterity and future generations – this through sharing articles that have appeared in our magazines over the years, helping each other with publicity and generally spreading the word not just to the converted, but also to those yet to share our enthusiasm.
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American Music Magazine är producerad av 1950s fans för fans och är en svensk tidning med både svensk och engelsk text. Tidningen utkommer med tolv nummer om året och handlar företrädesvis om 50-tals rock 'n' roll, och relaterade musikformer som exempelvis hillbilly/country och rhythm ’n’ blues. American Music Magazine drivs helt ideelt utan ekonomisk vinning.
American Music Magazine samarbetar med "Tales From The Wood - Roots Music Social Networking Group" som är ett namnkunnigt engelskt nätverk med bred verksamhet inom vår musik. Syftet är att gemensamt arbeta för att hålla rock 'n' rollmusiken, dess historia och dess många talangfulla artister och musiker levande för eftervärlden och kommande generationer - detta genom att dela artiklar som publicerats i våra respektive tidningar genom åren, hjälpa varandra med publicitet och sprida det glada budskapet inte bara till de redan frälsta utan också till sådana som ännu inte delar vår entusiasm och passion för denna musik.
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