Amoeba Music

By J Poet

Los Angeles based piano player and arranger Joe Liggins was one of the transitional figures in American popular music, an artist whose work progressed from urban blues to R&B to early rock’n’roll. His biggest hit, “The Honeydripper,” was #1 on the R&B charts for 18 weeks in 1945 and is considered by many critics to be one of the first rock’n’roll hits. Liggins remained an active performer until his death in 1987.

Joe Liggins was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1915, but the family moved to San Diego when he was 17. Liggins grew up playing trumpet and piano and after high school was a popular sideman and arranger in local combos. In 1939, he moved to Los Angeles and played... Read More

City Of Origin:

Guthrie, Oklahoma, United States

Genre:

Blues, Piano Blues, Soul, R&B, Jump Blues

Birthdate:

07/09/1915

Death date:

07/26/1987