Little Arthur Duncan

Little Arthur Duncan (February 5, 1934 – August 20, 2008) was an American Chicago blues and electric blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. He was a member of the Backscratchers and over his career was associated with Earl Hooker, Twist Turner, Illinois Slim and Rick Kreher.[3]

Little Arthur Duncan
Birth nameArthur Duncan[1]
Born(1934-02-05)February 5, 1934
Indianola, Mississippi, United States
DiedAugust 20, 2008(2008-08-20) (aged 74)
Northlake, Illinois, United States
GenresChicago blues, electric blues[2]
Occupation(s)Harmonicist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsHarmonica, vocals
Years active1950–2008
LabelsBlues King, Delmark, Random Chance

Life

Duncan was born in Indianola, Mississippi.[2] His first instrument was the drums.[4] In 1950, aged 16, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and became acquainted with Little Walter, who helped him to learn the rudiments of harmonica playing, and Jimmy Reed. He found work playing the harmonica accompanying Earl Hooker, John Brim and Floyd Jones.[2][4] Billed and henceforth commonly known as Little Arthur Duncan, he played primarily in and around Chicago and built up a local reputation over the years. He performed with his own band in the Backscratcher's Social Club, which he owned.[2] He worked in construction during the 1960s and 1970s, so was limited to playing and singing in the evenings.[4]

In 1989, Duncan recorded the album Bad Reputation, which was released on the Blues King label.[2][4] He later appeared on a compilation album, Blues Across America: The Chicago Scene, with Emery Williams Jr. and Robert Plunkett. In 1999, Duncan recorded for Delmark Records, which released the album Singin' with the Sun that year.[2] On the album he was accompanied by the guitar players Billy Flynn and Eddie Taylor Jr.[5] Live in Chicago followed in 2000.[1]

His final recording was Live at Rosa's Blues Lounge, a live album recorded in Chicago in August 2007. One music journalist noted that "spirited, gritty performances of Reed's "Pretty Thing," Wolf's "No Place to Go," and two Dixon favorites ("Young Fashioned Ways" and "Little Red Rooster") leave no doubt that Duncan lives and breathes electric Chicago blues."[6] However, a subsequent lengthy illness and hospitalization prevented Duncan from building on this success.[1]

Duncan died in Northlake, Illinois, in August 2008, of complications following brain surgery, at the age of 74.[3]

Discography

Albums
YearTitleRecord label
1989Bad ReputationBlues King Records
1999Singin' with the SunDelmark Records
2000Live in ChicagoRandom Chance Records
2007Live at Rosa's Blues LoungeDelmark Records

[7]

Compilation albums
YearTitleRecord labelNotes
1998Blues Across America: The Chicago SceneCannonball Recordswith Duncan, Detroit Junior, Mark Hummel, and Robert Plunkett
2002Harmonica Blues OrgyDelmark Recordswith Duncan, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Martin Lang, and Easy Baby

[8][9]

See also

References
  1. Gordon, Keith A. (August 25, 2008). "Blues Artist Little Arthur Duncan, R.I.P." Blues.about.com. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  2. Ankeny, Jason. "Little Arthur Duncan". Allmusic.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  3. Doc Rock. "2008 July to December". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  4. Hanson, Karen (2007). Today's Chicago Blues. Chicago: Lake Claremont Press. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-893121-19-5.
  5. "Little Arthur Duncan, Singin' with the Sun: Credits". Allmusic.com. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  6. "Little Arthur Duncan, Live at Rosa's Blues Lounge: Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  7. "Little Arthur Duncan | Album Discography". AllMusic. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  8. "Blues Across America: The Chicago Scene > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  9. "Harmonica Blues Orgy > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
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