K. C. Douglas
American musician (1913–1975)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
K. C. Douglas (November 21, 1913 – October 18, 1975)[1] was an American rural blues singer and guitarist.
- Guitar
- vocals
K. C. Douglas | |
|---|---|
| |
| Background information | |
| Born | November 21, 1913 Sharon, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | October 18, 1975 (aged 61) Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1940–1975 |
Career
Douglas was born in Sharon, Mississippi.[2] His full given name was simply "K. C."; the letters were not initials.[3] Douglas moved to Vallejo, California in 1945 to work in the naval shipyards, and by 1947 was playing on the San Francisco/Oakland blues scene. Douglas was influenced by Tommy Johnson,[1] who he had worked with in the Jackson, Mississippi area in the early 1940s,[3] and whose "Canned Heat Blues" he adapted on his albums, A Dead Beat Guitar and the Mississippi Blues and Big Road Blues.
The K. C. Douglas Trio's first recording was "Mercury Boogie" (later renamed "Mercury Blues"), in 1948.[4] The other credited musicians were Sidney Maiden (harmonica), Ford Chaney (second guitar), and Otis Cherry (drums).[5] The song has been covered by Steve Miller, David Lindley, Ry Cooder and Dwight Yoakam, and a 1992 version by Alan Jackson was a number two hit on the US country chart.[1] Meat Loaf also covered the song as a bonus hidden track that appears on his 2003 album Couldn't Have Said It Better.[6] The Ford Motor Company purchased rights to the song and used it in a TV commercial.[1]
In the early 1960s Douglas recorded for Chris Strachwitz, mostly released on Strachwitz's Arhoolie Records and the Prestige Bluesville label.[2] In 1961, Douglas played guitar on Sidney Maiden's album, Trouble An' Blues, thus reuniting a partnership that had started in the 1940s.[7]
Douglas played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1973 and 1974. He formed a quartet that performed in the East Bay/Modesto/Stockton area.[1]
Douglas died of a heart attack in Berkeley, California in October 1975, and was buried in the Pleasant Green Cemetery in Sharon, Mississippi.[1]
Influence
While in his thirties and working at a garage, Douglas taught blues guitar to Steve Wold, now performing as Seasick Steve, the grandson of his employer.[8][9]
Selected discography
Singles
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | "Mercury Boogie" | Down Town |
| 1954 | "Lonely Blues" | Rhythm |
Note: the B-side of "Mercury Boogie" was by Sidney Maiden.
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | A Dead Beat Guitar and the Mississippi Blues | Cook/Smithsonian Folkways |
| 1961 | K. C.'s Blues | Bluesville |
| 1961 | Big Road Blues | Arhoolie |
| 1974 | The Country Boy (reissued as Mercury Blues with additional recordings) | Arhoolie |
| 2006 | Classic African-American Ballads | Smithsonian Folkways |
