Cripple Clarence Lofton

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Cripple Clarence Lofton (actually Albert Clemens , * 28. March 1887 in Kingsport (Tennessee) ; † 9. January 1957 in Chicago ) was an American Boogie Woogie - and blues - pianist and dancer, songwriter and singer.

Live and act

Cripple Clarence Lofton began his career, although hobbling, as a tap dancer , which is where his stage name comes from. He later became known as a pianist in the blues and boogie woogie idiom and moved to Chicago . A hallmark of his performances was his energetic stage presence, where he danced and whistled to his singing. The author William Russell gave a description of his stage show in his book Boogie Woogie :

"Nobody can complain about a lack of variety or versatility at Clarence. When it gets going it's a three-round circus. While one plays and sings, he whistles a chorus and snaps his fingers like a flamenco dancer to add extra percussive accompaniment to his blues playing. But sometimes he turns sideways, usually with his back to the piano, as if he were trotting along and he trudges with his feet. Meanwhile he starts singing again and calls out to the audience or to his drummer. Suddenly he jumps up in the middle of a number, his hands clasped, and walks around the piano chair; then, quite unexpectedly, he hums something in a deep bass voice. A second later, he turns around and goes to the Piano back; both hands then fly over the keys at high speed. His actions and facial expressions are as intensely dramatic and entertaining as his music. "

Most of his songs were twelve-bar blues; With his unique style, Lofton soon found the mainstay of his work. His first recordings were made in April 1935 with Big Bill Broonzy for Vocalion Records . He later performed at the Big Apple nightclub in Chicago and continued playing records until the late 1940s when he retired. He continued to live in Chicago until he died of a brain embolism in 1957.

Lofton was an integral part of the boogie-woogie genre in Chicago. His most famous songs included: "Strut That Thing", "Monkey Man Blues", "I Don't Know" and "Pitchin 'Boogie". His talent influenced other players like Pinetop Smith and other well-known boogie-woogie artists like Meade Lux Lewis , Cow Cow Davenport , Jimmy Yancey and Erwin Helfer .

Discographic notes

  • Cripple Clarence Lofton Vol 1 1935-1939 (Document Records)
  • Cripple Clarence Lofton Vol 2 1939-1943 (Document Records)
  • Cripple Clarence Lofton ( Riverside Records , 1954)
  • Honky-Tonk and Boogie-woogie Piano (Riverside, 1954)
  • Cripple Lofton & Walter Davis (Kazoo)

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Information according to the All Music Guide. In Bohländer u. a. Reclam's Jazzführer 1989 different life dates are given: Date of birth March 28, 1896, date of death January 28, 1956
  2. ^ "Boogie Woogie", reprinted courtesy of the late William Russell's estate
personal data
SURNAME Lofton, Cripple Clarence
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Clemens, Albert (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz pianist
DATE OF BIRTH March 28, 1887
PLACE OF BIRTH Kingsport, Tennessee
DATE OF DEATH January 9, 1957
Place of death Chicago