Blues shouter

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A blues shouter is a blues singer, often male, capable of singing with a band. The singer must project, or "shout", to be heard over the drums and musical instruments of the band. Blues shouting was a major pathway by which jazz music edged over into rock and roll. It was also popular before the advent of microphones.

Notable blues shouters included:

• Big Joe Turner — whose style hardly changed at all between 1938's "Roll 'Em Pete", and 1954's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" — Turner was arguably the greatest exponent of the art.
• Wynonie Harris
• Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, an unusual combination of blues shouter and bebop alto sax player.
• Walter Brown, of the Jay McShann orchestra.
• Jimmy Witherspoon, who also appeared with McShann.
• Jimmy Rushing, blues shouter with Count Basie.