LEFTY BATES DISCOGRAPHY Part One Compiled by Dave Penny, Robert L. Campbell, Daniel Gugolz and Dan Kochakian Thanks for assistance from Dan Ferone he most well-known guitar sound Tof William 'Lefty’ Bates is one of sophisticated rhythm accom- p a n i m e n t supporting Jimmy Reed and Pee Wee Crayton, but Lefty's true forte was as a straight- forward blazing lead player. You won't hear much better Chicago blues guitar runs than Lefty's on such dazzling numbers as his own 'Rock Alley' on Apex or with Lefty Bates (left seated), with The Orioles, probably recording for Vee Jay circa 1956. Courtesy of Chicago Historical Society, Al Smith on 'Left ICHi-24325. Photographer: Magic Karpet Studios. From the Scotty Piper Collection. Field' for Falcon. the way I do, You angel, loving you the way I do”. This group Sadly, Mr. Bates is now living in a Chicago nursing home included Orlando Randolph (tpt/vcl), Julius Wright, (pno), Quinn suffering from Alzheimer's disease. I visited Lefty on March Wilson (bass) and Lefty on guitar. They broke up in 1948 and 2nd, 2003 and while conversant, Mr. Bates has limited recall of Lefty rejoined the Hi-De-Ho-Boys. session details or personal history. Lefty remembers that the band members called trumpeter Lefty's eyesight is failing and his hands are arthritic, but it was Orlando Randolph 'Mouse' and that he sang 'It Makes Me Blue' pleasing to bring a smile to his face when I played a tape of about on record. Lefty bragged to me that he "was naturally left- twenty of his recorded songs for him. Lefty remembered most of handed”. The guitar "was upside down, but it didn't bother me at them and even sang the lyrics to several. When Red Holloway's all. I did it and I did it well”. vibrant sax solos came forth, Lefty shouted, 'go, Red, go! Play Lefty recalls the name of tenor man, Dick Davis, and that that horn, man! Eat it up!' Lefty must have felt as if he were McKinley 'Mac' Easton was "a local Chicago boy”. Lefty back in the Trocadero Lounge or the Nob Hill club in the early described Horace Palm as "a great piano player and singer. 1950s. He was a Chicago man, too”. The El Dorados’ big hit, 'I'll Be Lefty did confirm his birthdate as 9th March, 1920, and his Forever Loving You' stands out in Lefty's memory. "They really birthplace as Leighton, Alabama. His parents moved to St. Louis played that record. That thing was on every day, just about”. In where he was raised. In Vashon High School, he was a member 1950, Lefty formed a trio with Quinn Wilson and Horace Palm of the Hi-De-Ho Boys, a vocal string band with Tommy Powell, and played Duke Slater's Vincennes Lounge, the Shalimar, the James Crosby and Bill Williams (who Lefty believes is living in Trocadero and Spruce's Duck Inn Lounge. Chicago), Walter Jones and Cleo Roberts. 'Ena', which Lefty recorded for Apex, was named after "my old Lefty and the Boys went to Chicago in 1936 where they girlfriend”. Mr. Bates said that he had a good reputation. "They recorded for Decca Records. They played the Club DeLisa on all wanted me whenever they wanted to do a session. They a regular basis from 1937 to 1950. In the military, Lefty was a called Lefty. "Get Lefty Bates”. That's what they would say.” staff sergeant in the army. Upon leaving the armed forces, Lefty In this issue, Dan Kochakian salutes one of the great guitar joined The Aristo-Kats and recorded for RCA Victor, including the heroes of post-war Chicago blues, Mr. Lefty Bates. Anyone song, 'It Makes Me Blue'. who would like to send well wishes, please address them to: Mr. Upon hearing this title on my tape player, Lefty broke into song: William Bates, 5th Floor, Kenwood Health Care Center, 6125 S. "It makes me blue, Loving you the way I do, It makes me blue, Kenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637-2818, USA. Many Thanks Honey, when I'm not with you, I started loving you at first sight, to Daniel Gugolz, Red Holloway, Dave Penny, Chris Bentley and Now that I got you, everything's all right, I get blue loving you Robert L. Campbell 4 >> B&R >> 183 TOMMY POWELL AND HIS HI-DE-HO-BOYS Tommy Powell, vcl/gtr; Cleo Roberts*, James Crosby, Bill Williams**, Lefty Bates, gtrs Chicago, October 4, 1936 Hi-De-Ho Swing* Decca 7231 That Cat Is High** Decca 7231 Chicago, November 18, 1936 Just About Time Decca 7255 Got The Blues For Harlem Decca 7255 THE ARISTO-Kats Orlando ‘Mouse’ Randolph, tpt/vcl; Julius Wright, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Quinn Wilson, bass; unk. dms Chicago, June 19, 1946 Boogie In ‘C’ RCA Victor 20-1957 Watch Yourself, Baby RCA Victor 20-1957 Lady Be Good RCA Victor 20-2066 It Makes Me Blue RCA Victor 20-2066 same personnel Chicago, February 1, 1947 Jack, You’re Dead! RCA Victor 20-2243 Ain’t The Gravy Good RCA Victor 20-2243 I Need Ya (Like I Need A Hole In The Head) RCA Victor 20-2299 The Spider And The Fly RCA Victor 20-2299 DICK DAVIS ORCHESTRA Dick Davis, ts; Sonny Thompson, pno/vcl*; Lefty Bates, gtr; Eddie Calhoun, bass; Buddy Smith, dms Chicago, c. January, 1947 Memphis Train* Miracle 109 Benson Jump Miracle 109 Screamin’ Boogie Miracle 108 Sonny’s Blues Miracle 108 Top: The Aristo-Kats. From The Chicago Defender, 24th May, 1947. Below: RUDY RICHARDSON From The Chicago Defender, 30th August, 1947. Rudy Richardson, vcl; Ted Craig, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Eddie Calhoun, bass 1950 Slidin’ Home* Meteor 5013 I’m Turning In My Chips Miracle 5188 / 5160 Hot Rod Special Meteor 5026 I Need You Miracle 5188 / 5160 Last Call** Meteor Unissued (Manufactured for S & S Recording Studio) Last Call** Charly CRB 1043 AL SMITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA Al Smith, bass/ldr; Cliff Davis, ts; Red Holloway, ts; McKinley Easton, bs*/as**; Al Smith, bass/ldr; James ‘Red’ Holloway, ts; Eddie Johnson, ts (except*); Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Al Duncan, dms; Bobby Prince, vcl McKinley Easton, bs (except*); Clarence ‘Sleepy’ Anderson, pno; Lefty Bates, Universal Recording, Chicago, January 29, 1953 gtr (except*); Leon Hooper, dms; Bobby Prince (Charles Gonzales), vcl** Better Think It Over Chance 1158 Universal Recording, Chicago, October or November, 1952 Better Think It Over (BP & ens. vcl) P-Vine PLP-708 Tell Me Why, Why, Why** Chance 1128 In This Misery Chance 1158 For Eternity Chance Unissued In This Misery** P-Vine PLP-708 I Want To Hold You** Chance 1128 I’ve Got You Under My Skin Unissued Smoke Gets In Your Eyes** Chance 1124 JIMMY EAGER BIG BERTHA HENDERSON, VCL, WITH AL SMITH ORCHESTRA Jimmy Eager (Tampa Red), vcl; Lefty Bates, gtr; Horace Palm, pno; Al Smith, Al Smith, bass/ldr; James ‘Red’ Holloway, Sax Mallard, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; bass; Al Duncan, dms Billy Wallace, pno Lefty Bates, gtr; Leon Hooper, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, January 29, 1953 Universal Recording, Chicago, October or November, 1952 Baby Please Don’t Throw Me Down Sabre Unissued Rock, Daddy, Rock Chance 1143 Baby Please Don’t Throw Me Down P-Vine PLP-708 Tears In My Eyes Chance 1143 Please Mr. Doctor Sabre 100 I Should Have Loved Her More Sabre 100 AL SMITH Beat That Bop Unissued Al Smith, bass/ldr; Cliff Davis, ts; Red Holloway, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Beat That Bop (TR, ens. vcl) P-Vine PLP-708 Horace Palm, organ*/pno**; Lefty Bates, gtr; Al Duncan, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, January 29, 1953 RED HOLLOway WITH AL SMITH’S ORCHESTRA Boogie (take 1) Meteor Unissued Al Smith, bass/ldr; Red Holloway, ts; McKinley Easton, bs; Horace Palm, pno; Boogie (take 3) Meteor Unissued Lefty Bates, gtr; poss. Vernel Fournier, dms Chop Chop Boogie Meteor 5026 Gallatin, Tennessee, prob. Spring, 1953 Beale Street Stomp* Meteor 5013 Buttermilk Vee Jay Unissued Fooling Around Slowly Vee Jay 174 Fooling Around Slowly (alt) Charly CRB 1043 THE HORNETS The Hornets, vcl; Al Smith, ldr; Red Holloway, ts*; Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; prob. Paul Gusman, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, August 12, 1953 Lonesome Baby States 127 You Played The Game P-Vine PLP-9036 Reelin’ and Rockin’* P-Vine PLP-9036 I Can’t Believe States 127 Big City Bound P-Vine PLP-9036 THE FLAMINGOS The Flamingos, vcl, with Red Holloway Orchestra: Red Holloway, ts; unk. tpt (except*); prob. McKinley Easton, bs (except*); Louis Carpenter, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; Hawk Lee, bass; Robert ‘Hendu’ Henderson, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, c. August, 1953 Carried Away Chance 1145 Decca 78 is Lefty’s first Plan For Love Chance 1149 record! From the Dan You Ain’t Ready Chance 1149 Kochakian Collection Golden Teardrops* Chance 1145 THE FIVE BLUE NOTES 5 >> B&R >> 183 (except*); Horace Palm, pno; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob. Quinn Wilson, bass; Vernel Fournier, dms Universal Recording, Chicago, c. October 31, 1954 Evil Woman Vee Jay NVD2-709 (CD) Soldier Boy Vee Jay 190 (repro) Tell Me Baby Vee Jay 129 Tell Me Baby* (alt.) Vee Jay NVD2-715 (CD) I Really Do Vee Jay 129 I Really Do (alt.) Vee Jay NVD2-709 (CD) Down The Road I Go Vee Jay 190 (repro) Fool’s Prayer Vee Jay 156 Fool’s Prayer (alt.) Vee Jay NVD2-715 (CD) Tastee Freeze Vee Jay 156 THE MOROCCOS The Moroccos, vcl; Al Smith, ldr; Red Holloway, ts; Norman Simmons, pno*/ celeste**; Lefty Bates, gtr; prob.