CL blast

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CL Blast (real name Clarence Lewis ; * 1934 or 1935; † February 26, 2016 in Birmingham , Alabama ) was an American soul - and rhythm - & - blues singer, who also acted as Junior Lewis .

Live and act

Blast began his career as a singer in his hometown of Birmingham when he appeared on local radio stations WEDR and WENN from 1949. In 1955 his first single Your Heart Must Be Made of Stone was released under the name Little Junior Lewis . From 1957 he did his military service in the US Army and toured with the troop entertainment for two years. After his discharge from the army, he moved to New York, where he recorded the single Cupid's Little Helper , which was released in 1960 on Bobby Robinson's label Fury Records. In 1961 he got a recording contract with Columbia Records and took up four singles as Junior Lewis until 1963 , before returning to Birmingham in 1964. There he opened a club and record store on 29th Avenue, The Players Lounge and One-Stop Record Shop, respectively . During this time he was a band singer with Erskine Hawkins and worked as a manager for Otis Redding .

From 1967 Lewis published his recordings under the pseudonym CL Blast ; In 1969 the single I'll Take the Case (with the B-side If I Could See My Baby's Face Again ) was released by Atlantic Records . His first (and only) successful track was What Can I Do (When My Thrill Is Gone) , which was arranged by Wardell Quezergue and released in 1971 on the New York label United Records. However, his drug problems and poor management hampered his career. From 1976 to 1984 Lewis worked with the songwriter Frederick Knight. In 1980 his only album, Lay Another Log on the Fire , was released on Atlantic Cotillion Records and included material from his previous recordings for Juana Records, including the disco-funk song I Wanna Get Down and the ballad If I Had Loved You More.

Web links

Notes and individual references

  1. ↑ a b c Obituary by Gregg Garrison in Alabamal.com
  2. ↑ Rob Bowman: Soulsville, USA: The Story of Stax Records 1997 p. 113 "Shortly after, Keyes was producing journeyman soul singer Clarence Lewis, aka CL Blast, on Atlantic. ..."
  3. ^ Blues & Soul - Issues 461-4731986 - Page 20 "His first single as CL Blast was" What Can I Do (When My Thrill Is Gone) "on the New York based United label. However the single was most likely recorded down south as arrangements were from Wardell Querzergue. The topside wasn't too bad with a surging rhythm and wailing guitar but the overlong flip is notable only for Blast's gritty vocal. "
personal data
SURNAME Blast, CL
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lewis, Clarence (maiden name); Lewis, junior
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American soul and rhythm & blues singer
DATE OF BIRTH 1934 or 1935
DATE OF DEATH February 26, 2016
Place of death Birmingham , Alabama