Grady Gaines (May 14, 1934 – January 29, 2021)[2] was an American electric blues, Texas blues and jazz blues tenor saxophonist, who performed and recorded with Little Richard in the 1950s. He backed other musicians such as Dee Clark, Little Willie John, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Joe Tex. He released three albums.[1]
Grady Gaines | |
|---|---|
 Gaines performing in 2014 | |
| Born | May 14, 1934 Waskom, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 29, 2021 (aged 86) |
| Occupation | Saxophonist |
| Known for | The Upsetters, The Texas Upsetters |
| Spouse | Nell Gaines |
| Relatives | Roy Gaines (brother) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Texas blues, electric blues[1] |
| Instrument | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | Early 1950s–2021 |
| Labels | Black Top |
| Website | Official website |
Early life
editGaines was born on May 14, 1934, in Waskom, Texas. Gaines's brother was Roy. In 1943, Gaines family moved to Houston, Texas. Gaines grew up in the Fifth Ward, a racially segregated neighborhood of Houston, Texas. Gaines attended E. L. Smith Junior High School.[1][3]
Career
editGaines was playing his saxophone at The Whispering Pines.[4]
Gaines worked as a session musician for Peacock Records.[5] He played on Big Walter Price's "Pack Fair and Square" and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's "Dirty Work at the Crossroads," before joining Little Richard's fledgling backing band, the Upsetters, as its leader in 1955.[1] Gaines recorded infrequently, but he played on Richard's "Keep a Knockin'" and "Ooh! My Soul."[1]
The Upsetters carried on after Richard "retired" in 1957. They toured with Dee Clark, Little Willie John, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Joe Tex. The band recorded for Vee-Jay Records in 1958 backing Clark.[1] Gaines also led Sam Cooke's backing band until Cooke's death.[5] Several recording sessions followed for Gaines and his band for various labels, including Vee-Jay, Gee and Fire.[1]
Once the Upsetters disbanded, Grady toured with Millie Jackson and Curtis Mayfield. He stopped playing in 1980.[1]
In 1980, Gaines became a transportation manager for Holiday Inn and later Sheraton.[6]
In 1985, Gaines re-formed a band, The Texas Upsetters, and played concerts in Houston before recording Full Gain (1988), Horn of Plenty (1992), and Jump Start (2002).[1]
Gaines performed in 1989 and 1996 at the Long Beach Blues Festival. As of January 2013, he continued to perform with the Texas Upsetters for private parties and wedding receptions and for public events, such as the Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club in Houston's Rice Village neighborhood.[citation needed]
Discography
edit- Full Gain (1988), Black Top Records
- Horn of Plenty (1992), Black Top
- Jump Start (2002), Gulf Coast Entertainment[7]
Awards
editPersonal life
editGaines' wife was Nell Gaines, they remained married until his death in 2021.[8]
Gaines' brother Roy went on to play guitar on Bobby Bland's 1955 hit single "It's My Life Baby".[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dahl, Bill. "Grady Gaines". Allmusic. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ Dansby, Andrew (January 29, 2021). "Houston blues and R&B great Grady Gaines dies". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Grady Gaines 1934–". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ Dansby, Andrew (January 29, 2021). "Houston blues and R&B great Grady Gaines dies". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Grady Gaines". Gradygaines.com. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ James, Gary. "Gary James' Interview With The Sax Player For Little Richard And Sam Cooke, Grady Gaines". classicbands.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "Grady Gaines: Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ "'I've Been There', Grady Gaines and Houston's Rock and Roll Roots". texasobserver.org. May 18, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2020.