Silas Hogan

Silas Hogan (September 15, 1911 – January 9, 1994)[2] was an American blues musician. His most notable recordings are "Airport Blues" and "Lonesome La La". He was the front man of the Rhythm Ramblers. Hogan was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame.[3]

Silas Hogan
Born(1911-09-15)September 15, 1911
Westover, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States
DiedJanuary 9, 1994(1994-01-09) (aged 82)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
GenresSwamp blues, Louisiana blues[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, guitarist, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
LabelsExcello, Arhoolie, Blue Horizon, Flyright

Biography

Hogan learned to play the guitar as a teenager and was performing regularly by the late 1930s. He was influenced by Jimmy Reed, as were Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo.[4] He had relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by the early 1950s and, equipped with a Fender electric guitar, formed the Rhythm Ramblers,[1] with Isaiah Chapman (lead guitar), Jimmy Dotson (drums), and Sylvester Buckley (harmonica). They stayed together for almost ten years and contributed to the development of the Baton Rouge blues sound,

In 1962, when Hogan was 51, Slim Harpo introduced him to J. D. "Jay" Miller, a record producer based in Crowley, Louisiana. Miller, through the offices of Excello Records, started Hogan's recording career, at a time when interest in variations of swamp blues was waning. Several singles by Hogan were nevertheless released until 1965, when Miller's disagreement with the record label's new owners brought the recording contract to an abrupt end. On some of his recordings, Hogan was backed by the harmonica player Moses "Whispering" Smith.[5] Hogan had to disband the group and returned to his full-time job at the Exxon oil refinery. In the late 1970s, he recorded additional tracks for Arhoolie and Blue Horizon.[1]

Hogan died in January 1994 of heart disease, at the age of 82.[3]

Discography

Albums
Year Title Label
1965 Trouble at Home Blue Horizon
1972 Trouble Excello
1989 I'm a Free Hearted Man Flyright
1995 So Long Blues Ace
1999 The Godfather Wolf Records

[6]

Compilation albums
Year Title Label Song by Hogan
1976 Gonna Head for Home Flyright "I'm a Free-Hearted Man"
1976 Rooster Crowed for Day Flyright "My Baby Walked Out", "Tell Me Baby"
1999 The Excello Story, Vol. 4: 1961–1975 Hip-O Records "Trouble at Home Blues"
2002 Genuine Excello R&B Ace "Go On Pretty Baby"

[7][8]

See also

References
  1. "Silas Hogan: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  2. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 170. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  3. Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1994–1995". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  4. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 76. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  5. "Silas Hogan, Trouble: Credits". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  6. "Silas Hogan: Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  7. Unterberger, Richie (April 6, 1999). "Various artists, The Excello Story, Vol. 4: 1961–1975: Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  8. Leggett, Steve (September 3, 2002). "Various artists, Genuine Excello R&B: Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
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