Amos Milburn – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
Amos Milburn Biography
In the 1940s and 1950s, Joseph Amos Milburn was a well-known American pianist and vocalist of rhythm and blues. On April 1, 1927, he was born in Houston, Texas, and he passed away there 52 years later. Milburn, who was one of 13 children, began playing the piano at the age of five. When he was fifteen, he joined the US Navy and served in the Philippines, where he won thirteen combat stars.
After returning to Houston, he formed a 16-piece band that performed in Houston bars and interacted with the city’s jazz and blues scene. He was a skilled pianist and performer who caught the eye of a business-minded woman in 1946 who set up a recording session with Aladdin Records in Los Angeles. Approximately the course of their eight-year partnership, Milburn cut over seventy-five sides. He was the first to cover “Down the Road a Piece” (1946), a blues with a Texasboogie beat that was almost rock. None became popular, though, until 1949, when the R&B audience began to pay attention to seven of his tracks. On Billboard’s list of 1949’s R&B Bestsellers, “Hold Me Baby” and “Chicken Shack Boogie” came in at positions eight and nine, respectively.
He rose to prominence as a key figure in the Watts district of Los Angeles’ Central Avenue music scene. “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer” was one of his most well-known tunes. A spate of songs about drinking began when Milburn’s “Bad, Bad, Whiskey” peaked at the top of the R&B charts in 1950. (none written by Milburn, but several penned by Rudy Toombs). Milburn didn’t appear to have a drinking issue, though.
Through 1952, Milburn continued to write the popular drinking ballads “Thinking and Drinking” and “Trouble in Mind,” and by this time, he was touring the nation and performing in clubs. He stated that he will break up his combo that summer while on tour in the Midwest and continue as a solo performer. That fall, he toured with Charles Brown in the South. His tours were made up of a series of one-night stands throughout the following few years. He went on tour solo for three years before coming back to Houston in 1956 to reassemble his band. Aladdin Records went out of business in 1957 as a result of the poor sales of Milburn’s albums released on the label. With a couple more records on Ace Records, he attempted to reclaim his previous level of popularity, but it was too late. Teenagers were increasingly the target audience for radio exposure.
The rollicking “Christmas (Comes but Once a Year)” that Milburn wrote for King in 1960 was a superb addition to the R&B Christmas canon. In 1962, Berry Gordy provided him with a platform for a return by releasing a Motown album that was primarily made up of remakes of his earlier hits, despite the record’s great rarity today (even Little Stevie Wonder pitched in on harp for the sessions).
However, nothing could now revive the pianist’s faltering career.The last recording made by Milburn was included on a Johnny Otis album. As a result of his stroke-related incapacitation in 1972, Otis was forced to perform the left-hand piano parts for his weakened old friend. Due to circulation issues, his second stroke resulted in the amputation of one of his legs. A third stroke claimed his life shortly after at the age of 52.
Amos Milburn Discography
| Let’s Have A Party | |
| Great Rhythm & Blues Oldies Volume 10 – Amos Milburne | |
| The Return Of “The” Blues Boss | |
| Million Sellers | |
| Let’s Have A Party | |
| Rockin’ The Boogie |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why Amos Milburn Is Most Famous?
Amos Milburn was an American R&B pianist, singer and songwriter. He was one of the most popular and influential performers of the early 1950s and had a string of hits including “Chicken Shack Boogie” and “Bad, Bad Whiskey”. Milburn’s career declined in the late 1950s due to alcoholism, but he made a comeback in the 1960s and continued to perform and record until his death in 1980.
What Amos Milburn’s Most Famous Song?
“Chicken Shack Boogie” is Amos Milburn’s most famous song. It was released in 1952 and became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart. The song has been covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King.
What Amos Milburn’s Most Biggest Hit Album?
The most biggest hit album by Amos Milburn is “Let’s Have a Party”. It was released in 1957 and reached the top of the Billboard R&B chart. The album includes the singles “Chicken Shack Boogie” and “Bad, Bad Whiskey”, which were both huge hits. “Let’s Have a Party” is considered to be one of the classic albums of the 1950s.
How Many Album Of Amos Milburn?
Amos Milburn recorded a total of 27 albums during his career. He is best known for his work in the 1950s, which helped to shape the sound of rock and roll. Many of his songs have been covered by other artists, including Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. His most famous song, “Chicken Shack Boogie,” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Most Searched For Amos Milburn Songs
| One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer | |
| Down The Road Apiece | |
| Milk and Water | |
| Thinking and Drinking | |
| Bad, Bad Whiskey | |
| Atomic Baby | |
| Chicken Shack Boogie | |
| Sax Shack Boogie |