<back - ROSCO GORDON - A native of Memphis, born April 10, 1928, past away July 11, 2002. Rosco Gordon skyrocketed to fame in the early 50's with a string of hits for the Chess, RPM and Duke labels, including originals like Booted and No More Doggin'. Many of his early recordings were made at the Memphis Recording Service, alongside friends and fellow music phenomenon's Ike Turner, Howlin' Wolf, BB King and Little Milton. At the radio station powerhouse WDIA, where Roscoe Gordon played piano and sang on his popular weekly show, he made recordings with Johnny Ace, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, and when Sam Phillips created Sun Records in the 50s,

Rosco Gordon returned to work with his favorite producer and continued to release brisk selling singles for the growing Rock n' Roll radio market throughout that entire decade of the 50's. A noteworthy contribution to Pop music during this phase of Roscoe Gordon's career for Sun Records included 'The Chicken'. The song which not only started a dance craze but also made famous a rooster named 'Butch'. In 1960, inspired by a riff from fellow musician Jimmy McCracklin, he penned 'Just a Little Bit', a song which has became one of a handful of standards from the R&B era and a hit for Little Milton. On the heels of the success of his original rendition, Rosco Gordon walked away from the music business for love. He purchased part ownership in a laundry business and became a full-time father to 3 sons and principal caregiver when his wife fell ill in 1982. Following his wife's death in 1984, he felt the pull of his first and most enduring love, music, and renewed his live  performance career in the New York area, while writing and recording new material at home. He hooked up with guitar great Duke Robillard for the recording of 'Memphis, Tennessee', released in November, 2000, by Stony Plain Records. Duke and his band recreated the shuffling beats and honking saxes that had characterized Rosco Gordon's early career and restored the vigorous appeal of early hits, as well as providing the 'Rosco Vibe' on new songs like the title track, a tribute to Gordon's hometown and musical past. As a result of the attention garnered by the album, he was nominated for a WC Handy Award as 'Comeback Artist of the Year'. He jumped into his second coming with an energy and enthusiasm that delighted audiences everywhere. In May, he returned to Memphis, joining old friends B.B. King, Ike Turner and Little Milton for a performance tribute to Sam Phillips during the 2002 WC Handy Awards. He culminated the weekend of activities and honors with a show featuring Blues great Rev. Gatemouth Moore and Jazz legend Calvin Newborn. Rosco Gordon was an influential performer-composer, whose contributions to contemporary music will forever endure.
MP3- No More Doggin' | Just a Little Bit |