Soko Richardson
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| Soko Richardson | |
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 Soko on back cover of John Mayall album, The Latest Edition. Photography and design by John Mayall, 1974
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| Background information | |
| Born | 8 December 1939 |
| Origin | New Iberia, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | 29 January 2004 (aged 64) |
| Genre(s) | Blues, R&B, Blues Rock, Rock, Soul |
| Occupation(s) | drummer, percussionist, arranger |
| Instrument(s) | Drums |
| Years active | 1955 - 2004 |
| Associated acts | John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, The Ike & Tina Turner Revue |
Soko Richardson (December 8, 1939 – January 29, 2004) was an influential rhythm and blues drummer. His career spanned almost fifty years, during which he performed and recorded with seminal groups including John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. He is perhaps best known for his innovative arrangement of the Ike and Tina version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song, Proud Mary.[1][2]
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[edit] Biography
Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, Richardson began his musical career at the age of 16, when he left home to tour the South with local bands. Shortly thereafter Ike Turner, upon hearing Richardson play in Texas, hired him to play with his band, Kings of Rhythm, and then later with The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Richardson worked with Turner for the next ten years. In March of 1971 Richardson's arrangement of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song, "Proud Mary" reached number four on the pop charts, and number five on the R&B charts. The song became a signature song for Tina Turner, and won the band a Grammy for "Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Group."[1][3]
In 1971 Richardson joined John Mayall's legendary Bluesbreakers, with whom he would tour and record for the next decade, playing with many of the diverse artists to whom Mayall gave a start.[4][5][6]
In the mid-1980s, Richardson joined Albert Collins and the Icebreakers, and became an influential member of the Chicago Blues scene. He helped earn the Icebreakers the coveted WC Handy Award as Blues Band of The Year in 1985.[1][2]
Over the years Richardson recorded with many other artists, including Bluesman Pee Wee Crayton, R&B star Bobby Womack and renowned English guitarist Terry Reid, with whom he was recording an album at the time of his death. Though limited by health problems in later years, he continued to perform and record, and sit in on jam sessions with friends. He played his last gig a few weeks before his death, at a club with Reid.[1][2]
Richardson died in the early hours of January 29th in his home in Los Angeles, from complications of diabetes. He was 65.[1][7]
[edit] Partial Discography
[edit] With Ike and Tina Turner
- 1966 - River Deep - Mountain High - Ike & Tina Turner
- 1969 - A Black Man's Soul - Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm (Pompeii Records)
- 1971 - What You Hear Is What You Get - Ike & Tina Turner (EMI) live
- 1991 - Proud Mary, The Best Of Ike & Tina Turner (Capitol)
[edit] With John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
- 1974 - The Latest Edition (Polydor)
- 1975 - New Year, New Band, New Company (ABC - One Way)
- 1975 - Notice to Appear (ABC - One Way)
- 1976 - Banquet in Blues (ABC - One Way)
- 1977 - A Hard Core Package (ABC - One Way)
- 1978 - Last of the British Blues (ABC - OneWay) live
- 1982 - Road Show Blues (DJM)
[edit] With Albert Collins
- 1988 - In Concert (MVD) live DVD
- 1991 - Iceman (Virgin)
[edit] Various others
- 1992 - Guitars That Rule the World - Various Artists (Metal Blade)
- 1994 - Chess Rhythm & Roll - Various (Chess)
- 2003 - Anthology - Bobby Womack (The Right Stuff)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Soko Richardson press release from pressnetwork.com Fri Jan 30, 2004
- ^ a b c Noted Soul Drummer Soko Richardson Dies February, 2004
- ^ The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised edition, 2001) New York, Fireside/Simon & Schuster. pp.1010 ISBN 0-7432-0120-5
- ^ John Mayall's Bluesbreakers accessed March 7, 2007
- ^ John Mayall Albums accessed March 7, 2007
- ^ The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll pp.621
- ^ John Mayall Newsletter accessed March 7, 2007
[edit] External links
- Life in Legacy - Week of February 7, 2004 picture of Soko Richardson
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