Slim Harpo, master of the blues harmonica, was born 97 years ago today.
The name "Slim Harpo" was derived from "harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in the blues.
Born James Moore in Lobdell, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, he worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim and later accompanied his brother-in-law, Lightnin' Slim, both live and in the studio.
Named Slim Harpo by producer J.D. "Jay" Miller, he started his own recording career at Excello Records in 1957. His solo debut was the single, "I'm a King Bee," backed with, "I Got Love If You Want It."
Harpo enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles, including Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), and the #1 hit, "Baby Scratch My Back" (1966). On these recordings, he was accompanied by the regular stable of Excello musicians, including Lazy Lester.
British rock bands like The Rolling Stones, The Pretty Things, The Yardbirds, Pink Floyd and Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires.
Later, the riff from Harpo's 1966 hit, "Shake Your Hips," which itself was derivative of Bo Diddley's, "Bring It to Jerome," was used in the ZZ Top hit, "La Grange," and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album, Exile On Main Street.
Harpo's recordings were also widely covered in modern African-American circles, including by the late Gil Scott-Heron on his final album. Scott-Heron covered "I'll Take Care of You" on his record, I'm New Here.
Other notable covers of Slim Harpo songs include "I Got Love If You Want It" by The Kinks, "I'm the Face" by The Who (under the name The High Numbers), "I'm A King Bee" by The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd and The Doors and "Don't Start Crying Now" by Them with Van Morrison.
Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s.
He died following a heart attack at the age of 45 — 12 days short of his 46th birthday.