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Justice
It’s been reported that when the Beatles
were introduced to Steve Cropper—white genius
of Black Memphis music—the four of them
all stood as one and bowed from the waist: an
appropriate homage I’d say displaying their
good sense—and making me wish that those who buy
records were that astute instead as we know
Steve Cropper’s name is not yet a household word
except when compared with that of Lowman Pauling
his own acknowledged inspiration now
forgotten who all through the forties and
fifties played guitar and sang with The 5 Royales
Black musicians making Black people’s music
in the USA of lynching and Jim
Crow colored water fountains and early
death for Negroes who didn’t know their place
in a better world we would all stand up
you and I John Paul George Ringo and Steve
“The Five Royales” we’d say as if we were
up on stage proudly introducing them
before a huge enthusiastic crowd
“Johnny Tanner and Eugene Tanner on
lead vocals” we’d say “Jimmy Moore Otto
Jeffries Obadiah Carter singing
harmony and on bass harmony and
guitar: Lowman Pauling Ladies and
Gentlemen” we’d say “this is like gospel
sweetness caught and held by the sting of that
guitar—soul starts here” we’d say “and doo-wop
starts here so will you please welcome The 5
Royales” and then we would all kneel and kiss
their shiny shoes
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Dick Lourie’s new book, Jam Session and Other Poems (Hanging Loose), reflects his half-century of engagement with two professions: he’s both a poet and a professional blues sax player. In the book’s title poem, Jazz and Blues are two old friends sitting in a café. A previous book of poems, If the Delta Was the Sea, was inspired by his twenty years of visiting and playing music in the Mississippi Delta. In 1966 he co-founded Hanging Loose Press with Bob Hershon, Emmett Jarrett, and Ron Schreiber. He is still active as co-publisher and co-editor.
[Click for more information on Steve Cropper, Lowman Pauling, and the 5 Royales.]
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