⬇️ WASHBOARD DOC ⬇️
(4CD)
BIOGRAPHY
He was born in Johns Island, Charleston County, South Carolina, United
States. Scant details exist of Doctor's early life, but it is known that
he relocated to New York in 1935. Once established, using the 'stage
name' of Washboard Doc, he performed on the streets of the city playing
an improvised washboard with various percussive attachments. In
addition, he sang to entertain the passers-by.
For many years, he
remained at the extreme edge of black music performers, having later
claimed to have recorded with both Ralph Willis and Sonny Terry in the
1950s. The liner notes to Early Morning Blues (1980) relating to
Washboard Doc stated, "His first recording was with bluesman Ralph
Willis about 1950. About two years later he cut with Sonny Terry for a
Folkways LP, playing washboards and spoons". However his involvement, if
true, was not credited on either album by Willis or Terry.
In May 1969, in Willie Dixon's basement recording studio in Chicago,
Illinois, Washboard Doc provided backing on five tracks which, along
with other performers work, was released on the 1970 album, Victoria
Spivey Presents The All Star Blues World of Spivey Records in Stereo,
issued unsurprisingly on Spivey Records. Washboard Doc similarly
provided his washboard backing to a small number of tracks on two
subsequent Spivey Records collections that were released that year.
Victoria Spivey usually recorded at least one track on each of the
collections issued by her own record label. One music journalist noted
that Washboard Doc "played with varying degrees of
appropriateness".
Washboard Doc had been present at a house party in 1966 in New York,
that also included fellow musicians Alec Seward, Sonny Terry and Brownie
McGhee. They had a spontaneous jam session which was recorded, with
Seward prominent backed by Terry (harmonica, vocals), McGhee (acoustic
guitar, vocals) and Washboard Doc (washboard). The recording was of
sufficient quality that it was released in 1975, entitled Late One
Saturday Evening. Also in 1975, Spivey Records issued an album primarily
credited to Paul Oscher, New York Really Has the Blues, which had three
tracks by 'Washboard Doc and Friends'. In 1978, Spivey issued a six
track LP, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter. Another
composite affair it featured Big Joe Turner with the Bill Dacey-Robert
Ross Band with Lloyd Glenn on piano, plus Washboard Doc and Brenda
Bell.....
(Wikipedia)