Robert "Big Mojo" Elem

Robert "Big Mojo" Elem (January 22, 1928 – February 5, 1997) was an American Chicago blues bass guitarist and singer.[2] Although he recorded only one studio album in his long career, Elem was a part of the Chicago blues scene for over forty years. He variously backed Arthur "Big Boy" Spires, Lester Davenport, Freddie King, Magic Sam, Junior Wells, Shakey Jake Harris, Jimmy Dawkins, Luther Allison, and Otis Rush.[1]

Robert "Big Mojo" Elem
Birth nameRobert Elem
Born(1928-01-22)January 22, 1928
Itta Bena, Mississippi, United States
DiedFebruary 5, 1997(1997-02-05) (aged 69)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
GenresChicago blues, electric blues[1]
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer
InstrumentsBass guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
Years active1948–1997

He was noted as a "born entertainer whose joking and acting on stage appeal to club audiences".[3] Elem's energetic on-stage persona underpinned his lengthy performing career.[1]

Biography

Elem was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, United States. He studied both Robert Nighthawk and Ike Turner playing live, which inspired his own early rhythm guitar playing.[1] By 1948, Elem had relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where he spent the rest of his life. Shortly after arriving, Elem picked up employment backing Arthur "Big Boy" Spires and then Lester Davenport. To avoid being in a large batch of jobbing rhythm guitarists all seeking work, Elem moved over to playing the electric bass guitar. In 1956, this instrument was something of a rarity in Chicago, and Elem formed a band with the harmonica player Earl Payton, and a young Freddie King on lead guitar.[1][4] The same year, King recorded his debut single for El-Bee Records. The A-side was "Country Boy", a duet with Margaret Whitfield.[5] The B-side, "That's What You Think", was a King vocal.[6] Both tracks featured the guitar of Robert Lockwood Jr.,[7] and the bass playing of Elem. That relative success saw King installed as the bandleader, but Elem stayed mostly with King for the next eight years. During the 1950s and 1960s, Elem regularly appeared in Chicago's burgeoning club environment, mainly on the West Side. He variously backed Magic Sam, Junior Wells, Shakey Jake Harris, Jimmy Dawkins, and Luther Allison, in addition to having a brief spell in Otis Rush's backing band.[1]

Elem had a relatively high-pitched voice, and his bass playing eschewed standard walking bass patterns, rather utilising a single-note based groove.[1] However, as a dedicated family man, Elem was reluctant to swap his day job for the vagaries of full-time musician status.[2]

In 1978, Elem recorded his debut album, Mojo Boogie,[8][9] which was released on Storyville Records.[10] The collection had a mixture of blues standards, with some original numbers co-written by Elem and his record producer George Paulus.[11] Elem was backed on the recording by the guitarists Willie James Lyons and Wayne Bennett, with Fred Below on the drums.[3] The album was subsequently reissued in 1994 on Paulus's own St. George Records.[12] Throughout this period Elem continued to perform locally, becoming well known for his own rendition of J. B. Lenoir's track, "The Mojo".[2]

Elem died in February 1997 in Chicago, aged 69.[2]

Discography

Albums
YearTitleRecord label
1978Mojo BoogieStoryville Records
1994Mojo Boogie!St. George Records (reissue)[13]
1997PinkMJ12 Records

With Luther Allison

With Magic Sam

See also

References
  1. Cub Koda. "Robert "Mojo" Elem – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  2. David Whiteis (July 2004). Edward Komara; Peter Lee (eds.). The Blues Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 301. ISBN 978-1-135-95832-9.
  3. "Big Mojo Elem, Label Storyville". Discovery-records.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  4. Greensmith, Bill; Rowe, Mike; Camarigg, Mark; Russell, Tony (2015). Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews from the Original Blues Magazine. Springfield: University of Illinois Press. pp. 7–8. ISBN 9780252039416.
  5. O'Neal, Jim; Van Singel, Amy. The Voice of the Blues: Classic Interviews from Living Blues Magazine. Routledge. p. 359. ISBN 978-0415936545.
  6. "Freddy King* – That's What You Think / Country Boy". Discogs.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  7. Freddie King Estate. "Sweet Home Chicago". Freddiekingsite.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  8. Ford, Robert (2007). A Blues Bibliography (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. ISBN 9780415978873.
  9. Shadwick, Keith (September 1998). Blues: Keeping the Faith (1st ed.). Chartwell Books. p. 96. ISBN 0785809007. ISBN 978-0785809005.
  10. "Robert "Mojo" Elem – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  11. "Mojo Boogie – Robert "Mojo" Elem – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  12. "Big Mojo Elem Chicago Blues Band – MOJO BOOGIE! : StGeorge7703". Bluebeatmusic.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  13. "Robert Elem". Discogs.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
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