Silas Hogan

Silas Hogan
Born (1911-09-15)September 15, 1911
Westover, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States
Died January 9, 1994(1994-01-09) (aged 82)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Genres Swamp blues, Louisiana blues[1]
Occupation(s) Singer, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Labels Excello, Arhoolie, Blue Horizon, Flyright

Silas Hogan (September 15, 1911 – January 9, 1994)[2] was an American blues musician. Hogan most notably recorded "Airport Blues" and "Lonesome La La", was the front man of the Rhythm Ramblers, and became an inductee in the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame.[3]

Biography

Hogan learned guitar playing as a teenager and was performing on a regular basis by the late 1930s. Similar to Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo, Hogan was influenced by Jimmy Reed.[4] He had relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana by the early 1950s, and equipped with a Fender electric guitar, Hogan put together the Rhythm Ramblers.[1] They assisted in the development of the Baton Rouge Blues sound, and with band members Hogan (guitar), Isaiah Chapman (lead guitar), Jimmy Dotson (drums), plus Sylvester Buckley (harmonica), they stayed together for almost ten years.

In 1962, by which time he was aged 51, Hogan was belatedly introduced by Harpo to the Crowley, Louisiana based record producer, J. D. "Jay" Miller. Miller, via the offices of Excello Records, started Hogan's recording career, at a time when interest in variations of swamp blues was starting to wane. Hogan did nevertheless see the issue of several singles up to 1965, when Miller's disagreement with the record label's new owners brought the recording contract to a swift finale. On some of his recordings, Hogan was backed by the harmonica player, Moses "Whispering" Smith.[5] Hogan had to disband the group, and returned to his full-time job at the Exxon oil refinery. In the late 1970s, Hogan recorded further tracks with both Arhoolie and Blue Horizon.[1]

Hogan died in January 1994 of heart disease, at the age of 82.[3]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label
1965 Trouble at Home Blue Horizon
1972 Trouble Excello
1989 I'm a Free Hearted Man Flyright
1995 So Long Blues Ace
1999 The Godfather Wolf Records

[6]

Compilation albums

Year Title Label Song by Hogan
1976 Gonna Head for Home Flyright "I'm a Free-Hearted Man"
1976 Rooster Crowed for Day Flyright "My Baby Walked Out", "Tell Me Baby"
1999 The Excello Story, Vol. 4: 1961–1975 Hip-O Records "Trouble at Home Blues"
2002 Genuine Excello R&B Ace "Go on Pretty Baby"

[7][8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Silas Hogan | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  2. ↑ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 170. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  3. 1 2 Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1994 – 1995". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  4. ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 76. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  5. ↑ "Trouble – Silas Hogan | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  6. ↑ "Silas Hogan | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  7. ↑ "The Excello Story, Vol. 4: 1961–1975 – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. April 6, 1999. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  8. ↑ "Genuine Excello R&B – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. September 3, 2002. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
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