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Pacifica Radio Archives’ “From the Vault”
Each week the Pacifica Radio Archives chooses a program "From the Vault" of broadcasts in a half-hour program.
On this edition of From the Vault we are happy to present a live performance by Blues Legend Memphis Slim from New York Citys Village Gate and broadcast live on Pacifica Station WBAI on Wednesday night August 10th 1977.
Memphis Slim was born John Len Chapman in Memphis Tennessee on September 3, 1915. By the 1930’s he was playing for his supper in honkytonks and gambling joints throughout the southeast.
As Memphis Slim became better known he began teaming up with larger more established artists like Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Boy Williamson. He began recording in the early 1940’s and by the early 1950s, Memphis Slim would amass a catelog of songs that would be covered by a host of famous artists like BB King, Sarah Vaughn, T Bone Walker, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson and later Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, John Mayer and others.
The Village Gate was opened by Art D’Lugoff in New York City in 1958. Pacifica Radio WBAI began broadcasting performances in 1960. Here is Art D’Lugoff from 2009 talking about his relationship with WBAI.
That was Art D’Lugoff, founder of the Village Gate from 2009. He would die later that year.
This edition of From The Vault is dedicated to Art D’lugoff and all the staff at WBAI that outreached to the community to bring the best music to the airwaves for all of us to enjoy.
This performance of Memphis Slim was from Wednesday August 10. 1977. Memphis Slim had permanently moved to Paris in 1962 but often travelled with Parisian drummer Michel Denis. Here is WBAI host Dick Sutholder to introduce Memphis Slim and Michel Denis.
You will hear some of Memphis Slims classic songs
We’re Gonna Rock
Misery Falls Like Rain
I’ll just Keep on singing the Blues
I’m Lost Without You
Harlem Bound
The Animal In Me
Baby Please come home
and several others
Enjoy…!!!!
Memphis Slim at the Village Gate live on WBAI presented by host Dick Sutholder, Wednesday August 10th 1977, Accompanied by drummer Michel Denis (France)
We also included these original recordings
Darling I miss you
Throw the Poor Dog a Bone
Help Me Somebody
Nobody Loves Me 1948 (Miracle Records)
Mother Earth 1951 (Premium Records)
One Man’s Mad
