Johnny Shines indeed. My favourite is his "Mr. Cover Shaker" album (1974), which was apparently one of his favourites too. Has anyone mentioned Freddy King ? Sometimes more known for his guitar playing and often dismissed for his later flirtations with funk and rock. But listen to his singing on earlier stuff like "I Love The Woman" (1960) and "The Welfare Turns Its Back On You" (1962). Then there are the great piano playing singers Champion Jack Dupree and Cousin Joe Pleasant. Both grew up in New Orleans, and it showed. Both could move the listener, but they also had a lot of humour. This "entertainer" side of the blues is often dismissed, sadly. Then for me the daddy of the singer-pianists Leroy Carr. It was not just the voice and the songs but that wonderful combination of his piano and the magical guitar playing of Scrapper Blackwell. Oh dear - well I said Big Joe Turner earlier, so I had better stick with it........
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