Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr (March 27, 1904 or 1905 – April 29, 1935) was an American blues singer, songwriter and pianist who developed a laid-back, crooning technique and whose popularity and style influenced such artists as Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. Music historian Elijah Wald has called him "the most influential male blues singer and songwriter of the first half of the 20th century". He first became famous for "How Long, How Long Blues", his debut recording released by Vocalion Records in 1928.

Life and career Leroy Carr was born March 27, 1905 in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents were John Carr, a laborer at Vanderbilt University, and Katie Lytle, a domestic worker. After dropping out of high school, Carr travelled with a circus, and in the early 1920s served in the U.S. Army. Carr returned to Indianapolis and worked in a meat-packing plant.

Carr was among the most prolific and popular blues artists between 1928 and 1935. His recording career was cut short by his early death, but he produced a large body of work.

Legacy Carr's vocal style moved blues singing toward an urban sophistication, influencing such singers as T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Ray Charles, among others.

Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing recorded some of Carr's songs, and Basie's band shows the influence of Carr's piano style.

Carr's music has been recorded by a long list of artists, including Robert Johnson, Ray Charles, Big Bill Broonzy, Moon Mullican, Champion Jack Dupree, Lonnie Donegan, Long John Baldry, Memphis Slim, Barrelhouse Chuck and Eric Clapton.

Carr was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1982.

Discography 1925-35 - Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, vols. 1–6 (Document Recs DOCD 5134-5139, 1992) 1934-1937 - Leroy Carr/Black Boy Shine_Unissued Test Pressings And Alternate Takes (Document Recs DOCD 5465, 1996) The six CD above contains the complete recordings of Leroy Carr, at least under his name. All The other Recordings quoted here are eventually 99% the same material.

As an alternative the JSP is usually a good choice not only for acoustical reasons.

1928–1934 - L. C. & Scrapper Blackwell: The Early Recordings of an Innovative Blues Master, vol. 1, 1928–1934 (JSP, 2008) 1934–1941- When the Sun Goes Down 1934–1941 (4xCD) (JSP, 2011)

Blues Before Sunrise (Columbia, 1962)

Masters of the Blues, vol. 12 (Collector's Classics, 197 Leroy Carr 1928–34 (K.O.B., 1971) Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell: Naptown Blues 1929–1934 (Yazoo, 1973) Singin' the Blues 1937 (Biograph, 1973) Leroy Carr, vol. 2 (Collector's Classics, 197?) Don't Cry When I'm Gone (The Piano Blues, vol. 7) (Magpie, 1978) Leroy Carr 1928 (Matchbox, 1983) Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell: Great Piano-Guitar Duets (1929–1935) (Old Tramp, 1987) Leroy Carr 1929–1934 (Document, 1988) Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell 1929–1935 (Best of Blues, 1989) Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell 1930–1958 (Document, 1989) Naptown Blues (Aldabra, 1992) Leroy Carr, vols. 1–2 (The Piano Blues series) (Magpie, 1992) Southbound Blues (Drive, 1994) Hurry Down Sunshine (Indigo, 1995) Naptown Blues (Orbis, 1996) Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell: How Long Blues 1928–1935 (Blues Collection, 1997) American Blues Legend (Charly, 1998) Sloppy Drunk (Catfish, 1998) Prison Bound Blues (Snapper, 2001) P-Vine Presents 21 Blues Giants: Leroy Carr (P-Vine, 2001) The Essential Leroy Carr (Document, 2002) Whiskey Is My Habit, Women Is All I Crave (Columbia, 2004) How Long How Long Blues (Wolf, 2008)