When Houston Had the Blues

When it comes to the blues, people always think of Memphis, Chicago, and the Delta and Piedmont regions, but rarely Houston. Yet, Houston was home to the blues kings, both of them: Albert King and Freddie King. But wait, there’s more, including Lightin’ Hopkins and Bobby “Blue” Bland. At this point, you should be wondering why was this documentary even needed? Of course, it is always nice to celebrate the blues, wherever they might hail from. In this case, Houston finally gets its due in Alan Swyer’s When Houston Got the Blues, which releases today on VOD.

It is hard to think of a bigger name in blues than that of Hopkins, except maybe Bland. Indeed, several musicians and commentators nominate Bland’s Two Steps from the Blues as the definitive Houston blues album. In the 1950s and 1960s, the city was a major regional musical hub, largely concentrated in the 3^rd and 5^th wards.

In addition to the majority black neighborhoods, Houston also received an influx of French-speakers from Louisiana. That is how the city became a launching pad for Zydeco, as personified by Clifton Chenier (who honed his art while working in the Port Arthur oil fields) and his son C.J. (who poignantly remembers his father, while speaking for Swyer’s camera). As Texas-born Marcia Ball explains, their Zydeco was essentially Chicago blues adapted to Cajun/Creole instrumentation.

Plus, Houston was home to the Texas Tenor tradition exemplified by Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, Don Wilkerson (a longtime member of the Ray Charles Band, who also recorded a one-off Blue Note album), and David “Fathead” Newman. Arguably, the Texas Tenors are a bit more jazz than blues, but they have enormous “crossover” appeal.

If you are not yet completely convinced and to some extent outraged Houston has not credit as a great American musical city, Swyer and company also have the example of Big Mama Thornton, who recorded the original “Hound Dog,” before it became a hit for Elvis. A lot of her friends and colleagues ask, with ample justification, how is it that she has yet to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

Alas, changes wrought by integration and municipal development altered the 3^rd and 5^th Wards. Consequently, the Houston scene is not what it used to be—or at least not according to those who knew it during its prime. Still, the story is not completely over. Although Swyer does not mention them, jazz musicians Helen Sung and Jason Moran are both from Houston. Moran’s exploration of jazz’s blues roots in his standout release, Same Mother is particularly notable and relevant. Regardless, Swyer makes his case with plenty of great music from great musicians. Very highly recommended, When Houston Had the Blues releases today (9/24) on VOD.