Monday, 14 February 2011

Week #6. Jerry McCain on Rex

"Steady" - Jerry McCain [Rex 1014]


Harp player Jerry McCain was born in Gadsden, Alabama in 1930 and was one of the first artists signed to Lillian McMurray's Trumpet label. From there he went to Excello and then to Johnny Vincent' Rex imprint.


In 1960 he cut a handful of sides in Birmingham Alabama with his brother Walter on drums. "Steady" b/w "She's Tough" was the first single from that date and influenced a number of harp players such as Kim Wilson. (His band the Fabulous Thunderbirds chose to cover "She's Tough" on their debut album).

Jerry's playing is sometimes compared to Little Walter's but he can add a raw passion at times for a rock'n'roll feel where Walter would use control and restraint for blues.

Our feature on the 13th February 2011 STAR BLUES show used both tracks from a deleted anthology compiled for the Westside label from the vaults of Johnny Vincent: "Tuff Enuff, Vol. 3: The Ace Blues Masters". I haven't found a compact disc currently available with these tracks.

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