Episode 13: Little Victor, The Beale Street Blues Bopper
Little Victor was raised in Italy and Memphis and was dubbed "The Beale Street Blues Bopper" by his cousin-- the avant garde-blues filmmaker, producer and performer Tav Falco. While in Memphis, his uncle, noted blues writer David Evans and family friend Alex Chilton also encouraged the young Victor, who was already playing harp and singing, to pick up the guitar. He was soon performing weekly on Beale Street with Uncle Ben Perry. With influences such as these it's no wonder Little Victor is deeply rooted in traditional blues sounds, but also has a fiercely independent artistic sense of purpose. He's made several of his own records for Wild Records, El Toro records, and Germany's Rhythm Bomb records, and his most recent effort, "Deluxe Lo-Fi" features Kim Wilson, Carl Sonny Leyland, Big John Atkinson, Willie Buck, and Tomi Leino and Jo Buddy from Finland. Victor is probably best known for his long and successful association with Louisiana Red and the significant crossover success of their "Back to the Black Bayou", on Ruf Records. They worked closely together until Red's passing in 2012-- check out Victor's emotional performance in this video of his original "The Death of Louisiana Red". In the last several years, Victor has used his strong musical vision to produce artists such as The Jelly Roll Men (see NBB Episode 7), Shakedown Tim (see NBB episode 11), Sophie Kay of Paris, Harpdog Brown of Canada, Mo Al Jazz of France, Little Hat of the Netherlands and many others. Take a blues journey with No Border Blues, the only blues podcast focused on international blues artists and hidden blues scenes around the world. Delmark recording artist Johnny Burgin and producer Stephanie Tice shine a spotlight on notable international blues performers, discuss the blues scenes in their home countries, and present intimate and exclusive musical performances. Stef couldn't make this interview, sorry!-- but she will be back in the next episdoe. Sponsored by Chicago Blues Network, bringing Chicago Blues to the world. noborderblues.com - chicagobluesnetwork.com - johnnyburgin.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices