Eddie Bo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eddie Bo
Eddie Bo at his club Check Your Bucket in New Orleans (2004)
Background information
Birth name	Edwin Joseph Bocage
Also known as	Spider Bocage
Born	(1930-09-20)September 20, 1930 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	March 18, 2009(2009-03-18) (aged 78) Picayune, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres	Blues, New Orleans R&B, funk, soul
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1955–2009
Labels	Bo-Sound, Ace, Chess, Ric, Apollo, Soulciety, Scram, Seven B, Blue Jay

Edwin Joseph Bocage (September 20, 1930 – March 18, 2009), known as Eddie Bo, was an American singer and pianist from New Orleans. He was trained in jazz music. Eddie Bo became famous for his blues, soul, and funk recordings. He also wrote and produced many songs.

He released his first record with Ace Records in 1955. Eddie Bo released more single records than almost anyone else in New Orleans, except for Fats Domino. He worked and recorded for over 40 different record labels. These included Ace, Apollo Records, and Chess. The music website Allmusic calls him a "sorely underappreciated veteran" of the New Orleans R&B music scene.

Biography

Eddie Bo's Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Eddie Bo grew up in Algiers and the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. His family had a long history of building things. The men in his family were bricklayers, carpenters, and masons by day. But at night, they were musicians. Eddie's mother taught herself to play the piano. She played in a style similar to her friend, Professor Longhair.

His cousins, Charles, Henry, and Peter, were also involved in traditional jazz music. They played with famous jazz musicians like Sidney Bechet. They contributed to jazz orchestras before World War II.

After finishing high school, Eddie joined the army. When he returned to New Orleans, he studied at the Grunewald School of Music. There, he learned to play piano, understand music theory, and read and arrange music. He was inspired by classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz. He also learned about jazz pianists Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson.

Eddie Bo started playing in the New Orleans jazz scene. However, he soon switched to R&B music. He felt R&B was more popular and earned more money. Like many local musicians, he often visited the Dew Drop Inn. This was a famous blues music spot on LaSalle Street. He played at the Club Tijuana under the name Spider Bocage. Later, he formed the Spider Bocage Orchestra. This group toured the country, supporting singers like Big Joe Turner and Ruth Brown.

Eddie Bo's Recording and Production Career

Eddie Bo's first record was "Baby" in 1955. He recorded it for Johnny Vincent's Ace Records. His next song, "I'm Wise," came out in 1956 on Apollo Records. Another famous musician, Little Richard, later recorded this song as "Slippin' and Slidin'". In 1957, Eddie Bo recorded "My Dearest Darling" for Chess Records. This song, which he co-wrote, became a national hit in 1960 when Etta James recorded it.

Starting in 1959, he recorded for Ric Records. He had regional hits like "Every Dog Has Its Day." In 1961, he recorded a fun dance song called "Check Mr Popeye." This song became one of his most well-known recordings.

During the 1960s, Eddie Bo kept releasing singles on many local record labels. His music style became more "funky." He used more of his jazz training in his songs. This helped create a special and important New Orleans piano style. He also worked as a record producer. He helped musicians like Irma Thomas, Chris Kenner, and Art Neville. In 1969, he had his only national chart hit, "Hook and Sling, Pts. 1 & 2." This song reached number 13 on the Billboard R&B chart. It also reached number 73 on the pop chart. He then started his own record label, Bo-Sound. He had another regional hit with "Check Your Bucket."

From the early 1970s, Eddie Bo worked in music less often. He started his own renovation business. In 1977, he released two albums that he produced himself. In the late 1980s and 1990s, he recorded with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He toured Europe with them. He also brought back his Bo-Sound label. He joined Willy DeVille for two records and toured with him. Later, he played and recorded with Raful Neal and Rockin' Tabby Thomas. They performed as The Louisiana Legends and The Hoodoo Kings.

Eddie Bo continued to perform often in New Orleans and at music festivals. He also bought a building that he and his manager turned into a restaurant. It was called "Check Your Bucket," named after his 1970 hit song. His home, recording studio, and restaurant were all damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Eddie Bo used his carpentry and bricklaying skills to repair the damage himself.

Eddie Bo's Passing

Eddie Bo passed away on March 18, 2009, in Picayune, Mississippi, at the age of 78. He died from a heart attack. A memorial concert was held for him on April 1, 2009. Many famous musicians attended, including Dr. John, Irma Thomas, and Allen Toussaint.

Eddie Bo's Family

Eddie Bo had two sisters, Gloria Bocage-Sylva and Lisa Bocage-Howard. He also had two brothers, Oliver and Cornelius. He was a father to eleven children: Valeri Ann, Edwin Jr., Owen David, Nancy Marie, Cheryl, Tanya, Sonjia, Tomekia, and Ava Nicol.

Awards and Recognitions

Eddie Bo received many music awards during his career. He earned two Lifetime Achievement awards from the South Louisiana Music Association. He also won a Music/Offbeat Best of the Beat award. His song "Hook & Sling" was featured on the famous breakbeat collection Ultimate Breaks and Beats.

On May 22, 1997, the mayor of New Orleans, Marc Morial, declared it "Eddie Bo Day." This happened while Eddie Bo was playing music in Karachi, Pakistan. He was also named New Orleans' music ambassador to Pakistan.

Discography

Albums

Filmography

• 2006: New Orleans Music in Exile

Images for kids

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  Eddie Bo at his club Check Your Bucket in New Orleans (2004)

See also

In Spanish: Eddie Bo para niños