Charley Jordan

American singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter
Guitarlist
Scout

Instrument(s)

Vocal
Guitar

Musical artist

Charley Jordan (July 11, 1890 – November 15, 1954)^[1] was an American St. Louis blues singer, songwriter and guitarist, as well as a talent scout, originally from Mabelvale, Arkansas, United States.^[2] He was known for a unique style that drew on his rural roots.

Life and career

Jordan recorded numerous singles for Vocalion and Decca between 1930 and 1937, and also performed with some well-regarded bluesmen from the 1920s to the 1940s. Jordan played with Peetie Wheatstraw, Roosevelt Sykes, Casey Bill Weldon and Memphis Minnie. Noted for his "crisply firm guitar", he had most of his biggest hits, including "Keep It Clean", in the early to mid-1930s.^[3] Later in that decade and into the 1940s, he worked frequently with Big Joe Williams.^[2]

Spinal injury

In 1928, Jordan was shot in the spine, this was due to his extramusical career as a bootlegger. This gave him a long term disability and caused him to walk with crutches thereafter (which can be seen in the few photographs of Jordan available).

Jordan died of pneumonia or violence in 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri.^[2] The Killer Blues Headstone Project placed a headstone for Charley Jordan.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

A partial discography is available online.^[4]

Songs

"Big Four Blues"
"Got Your Water On Blues"
"Crazy With the Blues"
"Dollar Bill Blues"
"Honeysucker Blues"
"Hunkie Tunkie Blues"
"I Couldn't Stay Here"
"Just a Spoonful"
"Keep It Clean"
"Raidin' Squad Blues"
"Stack O'Dollars Blues"

Compilations

1992 - Charlie Jordan Vol. 1, 1930 - 1931 - Document
1992 - Charlie Jordan Vol. 2, 1931 - 1934 - Document
1992 - Charlie Jordan Vol. 3, 1935 - 1937 - Document
2004 - The Essential Charley Jordan - Classic Blues

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 238. ISBN 978-0313344244.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bruce Eder (1954-11-15). "Charley Jordan | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
^ Giles Oakley (1997). The Devil's Music. Da Capo Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-306-80743-5.
^ Wirz, Stefan. "Charley Jordan Discography". wirz.de. Retrieved 24 December 2014.

Other sources

"Christmas Blues Notes Vol. 2". Bad Dog Blues. Archived from the original on 2006-10-20. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
"Charlie Jordan". Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
Charlie Jordan Vol. 1, 1930 - 1931 : sleeve notes on Charley Jordan