MASTERS OF BLUES GUITAR: DANNY OVERBEA
Après un service militaire sur le front européen, Danny Overbea revient à Chicago en 1946 et entame immédiatement une carrière musicale professionnelle avec les Three Earls, un groupe vocal pop de Cleveland puis en tant que chanteur et guitariste de l'orchestre du saxophoniste Eddie Chamblee. C'est au sein de cet orchestre que Overbea fait ses débuts discographiques en 1950.
Mais c'est lors d'une prestation particulièrement réussie au Paris Club sur le West Side en 1952 - Danny est aussi un formidable showman qui joue de la guitare avec les dents, derrière son dos, couché ...- qu'il est remarqué par le DJ et producteur Al Benson qui lui fait signer un contrat et l'enregistre, les disques sortant sur le label Checker. Train train train est immédiatement un énorme succès national, suivi l'année suivante en 1953 de plusieurs autres morceaux marquants (Stop time, 40 cups of coffee - que reprendra Bill Haley), cette fois gravés en compagnie du bel ensemble de King Kolax. Pendant quelques années, Overbea participe à plusieurs tournées nationales de R&B notamment avec Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Cootie Williams ou les Moonglows et figure dans les célèbres programmes télévisés de Alan Freed.
Mais ces succès ne se répètent plus les années suivantes et Overbea - du moins dans ses enregistrements pour Chess, Federal, Shep, Apex- essaie de revenir à un répertoire plus orienté vers des ballades, sans résultats commerciaux. Cependant, il continue à se produire dans de nombreux clubs de Chicago et jusqu'en Floride jusque à la fin des années 1960 où, la mort dans l'âme, il doit abandonner la musique pour vivre de divers métiers.
Un formidable guitariste mais sans doute difficile à catégoriser, Danny Overbea décède le 11 mai 1994 à Chicago, très largement oublié de tous.
Nous avons essayé de regrouper la plupart des titres gravés sous son nom. Il nous en manque une poignée et merci d'avance à ceux qui les possédant voudront les partager sur ce blog. Merci aussi à Marc Claes pour son aide précieuse.
Gérard HERZHAFT
Daniel Dorsey Overbea was born 3d January 1926 at Philadelphia, the son of Sylvester Overbea and Irene Dorsey, a musical family who played regularly in their local church and around. His parents went to live to Chicago when the young Danny was seven and he was musically educated at the Du Sable High School where he formed a band, playing several instruments, composing, arranging and singing a lot of Bing Crosby's tunes, his first idol.
After his service in Europe during the war, Danny came back to Chicago in 1946 and embarked himself upon a professional musical career, first with the Cleveland vocal group The Three Earls and then as a guitarist and lead singer with tenor-saxophonist Eddie Chamblee's band. This is as a member of Chamblee's group that he made his recording debut in 1950.
A proficient guitarist and a powerful showman (he played behind his back, with his teeth...), Danny Overbea was contacted by the famous R&B DJ Al Benson who recorded him for the Checker label the Top 10 R&B hit Train, train, train, followed by several strong numbers (Stop time, 40 cups of coffee... this one being covered by Bill Haley) waxed with the no-nonsense King Kolax Orchestra. During a few years, Overbea was very busy, touring nationally with Top R&B acts like Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Cootie Williams or The Moonglows and being featured several time on the famous Rock'n'Roll TV shows by Alan Freed.
But and despite trying to record more ballads and even pop tunes, the subsequent recordings for Checker, Federal, Shep , Apex... didn't generate any new Hits. For some years, until the end of the 60's, Overbea was still playing in clubs and venues from Chicago to Florida, living on his reputation.
But the good things didn't last and around 1969, Overbea had to give up music and make a living on several menial jobs.
A powerful, imaginative guitarist and composer but probably too hard to categorize, Danny Overbea died on 11 May 1994 at his Chicago's home, largely forgotten.
We have tried to gather all the titles he recorded under his name but a handful are still missing. Thanks to anyone who'd like to share those elusive tracks. And thanks a lot to Marc Claes for his help.
Gérard HERZHAFT
DANNY OVERBEA/ Discographie
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; Eddie Chamblee, t-sax; John Young, pno; bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. 27 juillet 1950
01. Sweet Lucy
02. Laughing boogie
03. This is it
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; Eddie Chamblee, t-sax; John Young, pno; Walter Scott, g; Andrew Harris, bs; Osle Johnson, dms. Chicago, Ill. 28 juillet 1950
04. Every shut eye ain't sleep
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill. 1951
The joke is on me
Contrary Mary
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; King Kolax, tpt; Dick Davis, t-sax; b-sax; Prentice Mc Cary, pno; Cowboy Martin, bs; Little Gates, dms. Chicago, Ill. janvier 1953
05. Train train train
06. Train train blues
07. I'll wait
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; King Kolax, tpt; Dick Davis, t-sax; b-sax; Prentice Mc Cary, pno; Cowboy Martin, bs; Little Gates, dms. Chicago, Ill. avril 1953
08. 40 cups of coffee
I'll follow you (cf my You Tube channel)
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; King Kolax, tpt; Dick Davis, t-sax; b-sax; Prentice Mc Cary, pno; Cowboy Martin, bs; Little Gates, dms. Chicago, Ill. septembre 1953
09. I could but I won't
10. Sorrento
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; King Kolax, tpt; Harold Ousley, t-sax; b-sax; Prentice Mc Cary, pno; Cowboy Martin, bs; Leon Hooper, dms. Chicago, Ill. janvier 1954
11. Stomp and whistle
12. Ebony Chant
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill. avril 1954
13. Roamin' man
14. Hey Pancho
15. You're mine
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill. 27septembre 1954
16. A toast to lovers
17. My love my love
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill. mars 1955
18. Do you love me?
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; band. New York City, décembre 1955
19. My stubborn heart
Hear my story (cf my YouTube Channel)
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; Wilbur Wynne, g; Ronald Wilson, t-sax/flt; Billy Wallace, pno; Johnny Pate, bs; Donald Clark, dms. Cincinnati, Oh. 19 mars 1958
20. Space time
Candy bar (cf my You Tube Channel)
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill. février 1959
21. With all my soul
22. Like crazy
Danny Overbea, vcl; Lefty Bates, g; Tommy Jones, t-sax; b-sax; pno; Quinn Wilson, bs; Al Duncan, dms. Chicago, Ill. juin 1959
23. Don't laugh at me
24. Stop
Danny Overbea, vcl/g; Sonny Thompson, pno; band. Cincinnati, Oh. 1961
25. Listen to me singing the blues
26. Book of tears
27. I'm tired of being tossed around
28. Rosebud
The very rare (if not Overbea's best!) tracks I'll follow you/ Hear my story/ Candy Bar are gathered on My YouTube Channel. A lot of thanks to Steve Wisner for sharing!
The very rare (if not Overbea's best!) tracks I'll follow you/ Hear my story/ Candy Bar are gathered on My YouTube Channel. A lot of thanks to Steve Wisner for sharing!