Slim Harpo

Born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, Moore worked as a
longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. One of the foremost
proponents of post-war rural blues, he began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name
Harmonica Slim. He later accompanied Lightnin' Slim, his brother-in-law, both live and in the studio,
before commencing his own recording career in 1957. Named Slim Harpo by producer Jay Miller,
the artist's solo debut coupled "I'm A King Bee" with "I Got Love If You Want It". Influenced by
Jimmy Reed, he began recording for Excello and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles which
combined a drawling vocal with incisive harmonica passages. Among them were "Rainin' In My Heart"
(1961), "I Love The Life I Live", "Buzzin'" (instrumental) and "Little Queen Bee" (1964). On these
hits he was accompanied by understated electric backing from the regular stable of Excello musicians —
including Lazy Lester, whom Harpo influenced.  The singer was known as one of the masters of the
blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was a humorous takeoff on "slim harp," the popular nickname
for the harmonica in blues circles.  Harpo was the point man of the 1950s Louisiana Swamp/Blues
movement. Harpo, along with Lightning Slim, Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, and a dozen other
downhome artists recorded for A&R man J.D. Miller in Crowley, Louisiana. The records were then
issued on the Excello label, based in Nashville.Harpo's relaxed, almost lazy, performances set the tone
for his subsequent work. His warm, languid voice enhanced the sexual metaphor of "I'm A King Bee",
which was later recorded by the Rolling Stones. The same group also covered the pulsating
"Shake Your Hips", which Harpo first issued in 1966, while the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds and Them
featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's hit "Shake Your Hips"
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 enjoyed a notable US Top 20 pop hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back"
(also a number 1 R&B hit), which revitalized his career. Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own
trucking business during the 1960s, although he was a popular figure in the late 1960s blues revival, with appearances at several renowned venues including the Electric Circus and the Fillmore East. He died
unexpectedly of a heart attack on 31 January 1970 at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend
Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana.

Original members of Slim's band who are still here and active in
Baton Rouge Blues are James Johnson and Rudy Richard.
They play frequently in Baton Rouge and participate in
the Blues Jams, as well as donate their time to education of
children in the schools. They are willing to give of themselves
humbly. We thank these legends and appreciate all they have
done and given to the Blues circles.