Snooks Eaglin
Snooks Eaglin ( born January 21, 1936 in New Orleans as Fird Eaglin, Jr., † February 18, 2009 ibid ) was an African-American guitarist and singer. In his early years he was also called Blind Snooks Eaglin. He had an immense repertoire; according to their own statements, he could recite the 2,500 pieces - this earned him the name "human jukebox". On stage he usually had no prepared title sequence; he played whatever came to mind or what wanted to hear the audience. His pieces covered the wide variety of styles, including blues, rock 'n ' roll, jazz, country and Latin music. His singing was like that of Ray Charles; in the 1950s he referred to at times as "Little Ray Charles".
- 2.1 albums
- 2.2 Compilations 2.2.1 Harry Oster
- 2.2.2 Imperial
Biography
At 19 months Eaglin lost his eyesight due to glaucoma. Due to various diseases, he spent several years in the hospital. At age five he got from his father, a guitar, and he taught himself to use the radios playing at. Nicknamed " Snooks " he received after the radio character "Baby Snooks ".
The Early Years
1947, with 11 years, Eaglin won a talent competition of the radio station WNOE. Three years later he left the school for the blind and began working as a musician. In 1952 he became a member of the Flamingoes, the band of Allen Toussaint. He remained in the band until its dissolution the mid-1950s.
First recordings made Eaglin in 1953 as a sideman by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford. His first recordings under his own name originated 1958-1960 in seven sessions, organized folklore researcher Harry Oster. There were audible Blue numbers that were later published several times.
1960s and 1970s
From 1960 to 1963 Eaglin took on a total of 26 pieces for Imperial Records. He played electric guitar, his band belonged to James Booker on piano and Smokey Johnson on drums. Dave Bartholomew had written a good part of the title. It was consistently to Rhythm & Blues, for the Eaglin is best known today. In 1964, Eaglin home recordings for a Swedish publication.
The next shots came only in 1971, again for a Swedish label. The album Down Yonder with Ellis Marsalis on piano appeared in 1978. Besides his own works Eaglin participated in Professor Long Hairs Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge ( 1971-72 ) and the debut album by the Wild Magnolias (published in 1974).
Black Top and the late years
Between 1987 and 1999, Eaglin recorded four studio and one live album for Black Top Records of the brothers Nauman and Hammond Scott. As a guest musician he played for other Black top artists, including Henry Butler, Earl King, Tommy Ridgley.
After the end of Black Top Records Eaglin The Way It Is published in Money Pit Records, produced by the Scott brothers, the Black Top had operated. 1997 Eaglins version of St. James Infirmary Blues in the UK was used for a television commercial.
Snooks Eaglin died on 18 February 2009 after a heart attack at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. With him in 2008 had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the spring of 2009, he should appear at the New Orleans Jazz Fest again.