Doctor Ross

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Doctor Ross (October 21, 1925 – May 28, 1993[1]), aka Doctor Ross, the harmonica boss, was an American blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player and drummer — a one-man band — who was born Charles Isaiah Ross, in Tunica, Mississippi.

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[edit] Overview and career

Ross played various forms of the blues that have seen him compared to John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson I, and is perhaps best known for the recordings he made for Sun Records in the 1950s, notably "The Boogie Disease" and "Chicago Breakdown". Ross won a Grammy for his 1981 LP Rare Blues, and subsequently enjoyed a resurgence and much critical acclaim towards the end of his career.[1]

In 1951 he began to be heard on Mississippi and Arkansas radio stations, now nicknamed Doctor because of his habit of carrying his harmonicas in a black bag that resembled a doctor's bag, and over the next three years recorded in Memphis, Tennessee for both Chess Records and Sun Records, creating exhilarating harmonica or guitar boogies made disctinctive by his sidemen playing washboard (with a spoon and fork) and broom.[2]

In 1954 he took a job with General Motors in Flint, Michigan, and played less. Some singles, among them his first true one-man band effort, "Industrial Boogie", filtered into blues circles, leading to a Testament Records album and a 1965 AFBF booking.[2] While in London he recorded what would be the first LP on Blue Horizon Records. Europe loved Ross and gave him work and recording opportunities; he was never as popular at home, and in the 1980s his performing profile was barely visible.[2]

He died in 1993, at the age of 67, and was buried in Flint, Michigan.

                                   MCC establishes “Doc” Ross music scholarship;

                                   Mott community College will be establishing a new music scholarship in memory of legendary local blues musician Isaiah “Doc” Ross.  The $10,000 endowment check was presented at the Kenny Wayne Shepherd concert at the Clio Amphitheater, Friday, August 18, 2004

The Foundation for Mott Community College, which is responsible for the administration of the Doc Ross Scholarship, has raised the necessary endowment through gifts from several local businesses, organizations, and individuals, as well as through sales of the concert video “Doctor Isaiah Ross: The Harmonica Boss – The Last Concert,” a recording of one of Doc Ross’s final concerts, which took place on January 10, 1993, at the Flint Public Library.

The Doc Ross Scholarship will be available for Mott students enrolled either full-time or part-time in a vocal or instrumental music performance program at Mott College or a full- or part-time music major. Applicants must also have financial need, as defined by federal guidelines.

Isaiah “Doc” Ross was born in Tunica, Mississippi, in 1925, the youngest of 11 children. At a very early age, Ross was exposed to both live and recorded music. His father and his uncle were both harmonica players, playing mostly spirituals. As a child, Ross would take his father’s harmonica off the mantle and try to play it.

Ross made his debut at the age of 11 with a group called “The Silver Kings” comprised of local musicians from the Tunica area. At the age of 13, Ross began playing at house parties, earning $2.50 a night. At the age of 16, Ross borrowed a guitar and taught himself to play. Since he was left-handed, he had to turn the guitar upside-down, creating the unique style he used throughout his career.

At the age of 18, Ross enlisted in the US Army. Carrying his harmonica in a black bag, similar to the kind carried by doctors, Ross soon earned the nickname “Doc” from the other enlistees. While in the Army, Ross won first prize in the base talent show, but it wasn’t until the late 1940s when he turned professional.

Making his way through a number of radio stations, Ross singed a recording contract with Sun Records in the early 1950s. Two titles – “Come Back Baby” and “Chicago Breakdown” – were released on the Sun label, while two other titles – “Country Clown” and Doctor Ross Boogie” – were released on the Chess label.

In 1954, while he and his wife were on their honeymoon in Flint, Michigan, Ross found a job at the General Motors Truck and Bus, Metal Fabricating Plant. Ross continued to pursue his music career while working at the plant, and in 1965 he went on tour in Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival.

In 1981 Ross won a Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording, with his song “Chicago Breakdown.”

Ross played on and off in Europe for the rest of his career. He died on May 28, 1993. He is buried in Flint.

David Boyd, a former friend and advisor of Doc Ross, as well as scholarship coordinator, said, “Doc was world famous; he used to sell out halls in Europe. However, he was virtually unknown in his own hometown. I felt that music scholarship in his name would help keep his memory alive and help other people learn about music that he loved so much.”

For more information, to make a contribution to the scholarship fund, or to purchase a copy of the concert video “Doctor Isaiah Ross: The Harmonica Boss – The Last Concert,” call the Foundation for Mott Community College at (810) 762-0425.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. All Music Guide biography
  2. ^ a b c Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited, p. 163. ISBN 1-85868-255-X. 

[edit] External links

David J Boyd- 3515 Lahring Road - Linden, MI 48451- former manager and friend (810)252-3387

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