Red Nelson (musician)

Nelson Wilborn (August 31, 1907 – March 1970),^[1] better known as Red Nelson or Dirty Red, was an American blues singer and occasional guitarist. His recording career lasted well over a decade, with "Crying Mother Blues" and "Streamline Train" (both 1936), two of his stand-out songs. His accompanists on record variously included Cripple Clarence Lofton, Blind John Davis, Black Bob, Kansas Joe McCoy, Papa Charlie McCoy, Big Bill Broonzy and Lonnie Johnson.

His 1947 release, "Mother Fuyer", managed to escaped censorship.

Life and career

Nelson Wilborn was born in Sumner, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, United States.^[2] He relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in the early 1930s,^[3] where he regularly performed in their nightclubs.^[4] Nelson's recording career began in 1935 and lasted until 1947. He was noted as "a fine vocalist with a telling falsetto", and was fortunate to be accompanied in his recordings with some of the best musicians available at that time. These included the pianist Cripple Clarence Lofton, with whom Nelson recorded several sides for Decca Records during 1935 and 1936.^[2] "Crying Mother Blues" and "Streamline Train" (both 1936), are two of the tracks from the period that music journalists have described as the best of his career.^[2][3] The two tracks were also issued on the same shellac disc by Brunswick Records in their 'Sepia Series'.^[5] Others who accompanied Nelson on record were Charles Avery, Blind John Davis and Black Bob (piano), with alternatively Kansas Joe McCoy, Papa Charlie McCoy plus Big Bill Broonzy (guitar).^[6] His vocals were often held back from emotional extremes, to serve the passing fashion of the age.^[2]

Nelson later recorded with James Clark playing piano, particularly on his recordings in 1947 which were issued by Aladdin Records.^[2] His guitar accompaniment at this time was provided by Lonnie Johnson.^[7] "Mother Fuyer" was a jump blues song, written and recorded by Nelson. The single was released by Aladdin Records on a 78 rpm, 10" shellac single record. Nelson found no reason to be particularly oblique over the title of the jump blues track, which he recorded in 1947.^[8] It was released using the nom de disque, Dirty Red, by Aladdin Records (catalog reference 194A).^[9] The effective minced oath seemed to have confused the censors.^[4] The dirty blues lyrics included the lines "I got to put this mule to jumpin' in yo' stall, I'm a lovin' muther for ya".^[8]

Nelson was described by more than one source as "an amiable alcoholic", although he maintained a working schedule that saw him work briefly with Muddy Waters Band in the 1960s.^[2][4] Sheldon Harris' 1979 edition of Blues Who's Who, stated that he "frequently worked outside of music (as a waiter), Trocadero Lounge Club, Chicago into the 60s".^[10] His whereabouts thereafter are shrouded in mystery and, rather oddly, there appears to be no surviving photographs of the man. He was known for liking double entendres, which may have explained his brief excursion from normality.^[2]

Nelson died in Chicago, Illinois, in March 1970, aged 62.^[1]

In 1998, Old Tramp Records issued an album of all known Nelson's work, entitled Red Nelson – In Chronological Order (1935-1947).^[11]

References

External links

• Worldcat.org entry