On this 1st day of January in 1947 Blues guitarist, keyboardist and producer Gary BB Coleman was born in Paris, TX. Coleman started his career as a local Bluesman and promoter in Texas and Oklahoma. He found his niche when he signed his self-produced debut album over to the fledgling Alanta based Ichiban Records in 1986. Since then, both Coleman and Ichiban have made their marks in the Blues field. Coleman released six of his own CDs on Ichiban, as well as producing the bulk of Ichiban`s hefty Blues catalog. Although definitely influenced by B.B. and Albert King (hence the nickname), Coleman acknowledges his debt to fellow Texan Freddiyoutu.be/EfP8Fiaoe7oe King, whom Gary began working with when he was 15. After his apprenticeship with Freddie, Coleman backed Lightnin` Hopkins and then formed his own band. He supplemented his music by acting as a booking agent for Blues musicians in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Coleman produced over thirty albums for Ichiban before his untimely death in 1994. All six of Coleman`s releases on Ichiban are good, especialy Nothin` But The Blues and If You Can Beat Me Rockn` Ichiban has also released an excellent compilation CD The Best of Gary Coleman.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:03:10 +0000