One of the finest voices the blues has known, Bobby “Blue” Bland died last Sunday at age 83. Sometimes called the Sinatra of the blues, Bland projected a similar class and elegance even when getting lowdown. He was long known for the emotional power of his vocals, not to mention the sex appeal evinced in his trademark low growls. Bland was a frequent visitor to New Orleans and played a well-received set at Jazz Fest two years ago.

Born in the suburb Rosemark, Tennessee, he moved to Memphis at age 17 and became part of the Beale Streeters,  a loose-knit band that included fellow future legends B.B. King, Johnny Ace and Junior Parker. After a stint in the Army Bland scored his first Top Ten hit with 1957’s “Further On Up the Road,” an eventual blues classic that was covered by many including Eric Clapton, who played it with the Band at the Last Waltz. He also originated “Turn On Your Lovelight,” later associated with the Grateful Dead, and had a hit with T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday Blues,” later borrowed by the Allman Brothers. While the cover versions were fine, Bland’s originals remain definitive.

The late ‘50s/early ‘60s were both his creative and commercial peak, with a round of hits including the hard-edged “I Pity the Fool” (covered rather badly by a teenaged David Bowie) and the lyrically wise “Ain’t Nothing You Can Do” (covered more credibly by Van Morrison). His career saw a revival in the early ‘70s, when he signed with the more pop-oriented ABC/Dunhill label which applied a smoother production touch. The result was crossover success with 1973’s His California Album; though the followups were less successful, Bland stuck to his trademark mix of blues and silky soul, never stretching too far to chase current trends. Though he later battled health issues including a triple bypass, Bland remained a popular live act well into the new millennium.

Look for a full appreciation of Bland’s life and work in next month’s August issue of OffBeat Magazine.

VIDEO: “I Pity The Fool” live at Jazz Fest 2011: