Yet another influential Louisiana blues man. James Moore was born 1924 in Baton Rouge, actually Lobdell, a small place in the western part of the parish. A working man all of his life, James was a Longshoreman and a construction worker in the late 1930's and 1940's. He began preforming in Baton Rouge bars under the name "Harmonica Slim" and later accompanied by his brother- in- law "Lightning Slim" Producer J.D. "Jay" Miller actually gave him the nickname; Slim Harpo. It stuck and in 1957 he began writing and recording a slue of hits for Excello Records out of Nashville. "I'm A King Bee" and "I Got Love If You Want It" were two of his most memorable compositions. "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961) was a Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Also one of the first cross-over hits ever on the Billboard Charts in 1966 was "Baby Scratch My Back".
The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and Pink Floyd all featured Slims songs on their early recordings. American artists got on board with the Slim sound, as ZZ Top's La Grange famous guitar riff is borrowed from Harpo's 1966 hit: "Shake Your Hips". Not to mention The Fabulous Thunderbirds covers of his songs. The new Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Whiskey TV Commercial features the Slim Harpo's song "I'm A King Bee"
Never a full-time musician, Harpo owned his own trucking company during the 1960's. He died in 1970 following a heart attack at the young age of 46. I think he was just getting started on what he could have contributed to the blues world. He was a major influence and continues to be.
The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and Pink Floyd all featured Slims songs on their early recordings. American artists got on board with the Slim sound, as ZZ Top's La Grange famous guitar riff is borrowed from Harpo's 1966 hit: "Shake Your Hips". Not to mention The Fabulous Thunderbirds covers of his songs. The new Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Whiskey TV Commercial features the Slim Harpo's song "I'm A King Bee"
Never a full-time musician, Harpo owned his own trucking company during the 1960's. He died in 1970 following a heart attack at the young age of 46. I think he was just getting started on what he could have contributed to the blues world. He was a major influence and continues to be.
