Pee Wee Crayton
Early Hour Blues
(Blind Pig5052)
Pee
Wee Crayton was one of the giants of the post World War II West Coast
guitar sound. It has been a mystery as to why he has been given so little
acclaim for his work. Hopefully, with this new collection on Blind Pig
Records, Early Hour Blues, a new generation of blues lovers will discover
Pee Wee Crayton. Pee Wee Crayton was born near Austin, Texas, in 1914. By
1935, he had relocated to Los Angeles. Fellow-transplanted Texan, T-Bone
Walker, was a major influence on Pee Wee's sound and style. Pee Wee
Crayton's star began to fade in the late 1950s. As with many other blues
artists, his career remained low key until enjoying a revival in the 70s
& 80s. Crayton recorded the songs featured on Early Hour Blues during
his last sessions in 1983 and 1984. Pee Wee Crayton died in 1985. The 11
songs on this CD show not only that Pee Wee's guitar playing remained
sharp until the end but also that his voice had evolved into a wonderful
mellow instrument. The backing bands on these sessions include the very
able Rod & Honey Piazza and the Doug MacLeod band. Crayton's first big
hit, "Blues After Hours," recorded in 1948, is reprised on this
new collection. The songs range in style from late-night instrumental mood
setters to shuffles and some blues-tinged rock n' roll. His wife Esther
wrote six of the seven Pee Wee Crayton original songs featured here. Pee
Wee Crayton's music on Early Hour Blues is as fresh and charged as if it
was recorded in 1999. Kudos goes to Blind Pig Records for reaching into
somebody's vault and pulling out this treasure for us to enjoy.
- Scott
Ferman -
Southwest Blues CD Review - September 1999
Current Reviews - 1999 Reviews
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