I also love old Rhythm and Blues.

And I remember hearing and seeing folks standing on street corners harmonizing. I miss that.

Incidently, PoppaGator, my mother has told me and my siblings how our paternal grandfather [who I don't remember at all] nicknamed my older sister 'Caldonia' and would sing

"Caledonia! Caledonia! What make yo' big head so hard?"

I didn't know that this was a Louis Jordan song. Actually I just became acquainted with Louis Jordan's music about 5 years ago when I took a chance and purchased his CD from a used record shop...
Of course in these days of free online music, it's easier to become acquainted with different musicians and vocalists...

One of Jordan's songs-"Beans And Cornbread"-was included in the soundtrack for the Spike Lee movie "Malcolm X".

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Another early R&B singer that I feel deserves props is Hank Ballard. A lot of his songs live on, but I want to particularly mention his 1953 hit "Let's Go" Let's Go Let's Go {Thrill On The Hill}:

{guitar)

There's a thrill upon the hill
Let's go, let's a-go, let's go
There's a thrill upon the hill
Let's go, let's a-go, let's go

There's a house honey, way across town
People coming from miles around
Put on your pretty red dress
Let's go see about this mess
That's it, baby let's git
And go way far upon the hill

We're gonna have a whole lotta fun
We gonna greet the risin' sun
All night long we gonna ball
Until we hear yo mama call
That's it, baby let's git
And go way far upon the hill

There's a thrill upon the hill
Let's go, let's a-go, let's go
There's a thrill upon the hill
Let's go, let's a-go, let's go

Let's go!

(sax & instrumental)

Eee-yeah!
Everybody's gonna be there
My friends and yours from everywhere
Oh, what a time it's gonna be!
Come on baby, let's go see
That's it, baby let's git
And go way far upon the hill

There's a thrill upon the hill
Let's go, let's a-go, let's go

There's a thrill upon the hill
A-let's go, let's a-go, let's go.


FADES-


Source: www.lyred.com

-snip-

[I admit to having confused this song with Fat's Domino's "Blueberry Hill" {'I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill'}-and yes I know that these two songs are completely different. And BTW, much respect to Fats Domino!].

The Hank Ballard 'Thrill On The Hill' song was slightly adapted and used in the 1960s {and earlier?; and now?} as a chant for Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh. Westinghouse High School happens to be located in the Homewood area and not in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. However, that school is named after George WestingHOUSE and it was a play on the word 'house' that led to this spirited chant:

"There's a House upon the hill.
Let's go. Let's go Let's go
There's a House upon the hill.
Let's go. Let's go. Let's go."

Two years ago I had the pleasure of attending a marching band competition, and as the Westinghouse band entered the area, a large contingent of the 'old school' folks in the stands stood up and cheered on the young musicians, majorettes, and members of the color guard with that song.

I loved it!


Azizi