Astronote Blues

 

Big John

Astronote Blues

Astrol Records PB-764 (Capitol Records custom pressing)
1963

Tiny Memphis label. They are only two other records on Astrol Records, all from 1963 : Calvin Newborn and Johnny Scott (later owner of the Portra label). Who was Big John, I don't know. 

But the guitarist on his record is certainly Calvin Newborn, a member of the Newborn jazz dynasty. He played on BB King's vinyl debut "BB's Boogie" on the Bullet label. That's Calvin on guitar with father Finas (or Phineas) Newborn Sr. on drums and brother Phineas Jr. on piano. The family band held down the floor at Memphis' Flamingo Room every weekend (where young Calvin often beat Pee Wee Crayton in legendary after-hours "Battles of the Blues") and even hit the road as Ike Turner's band with "Rocket 88"  

Ike Turner taught Calvin how to drive - in return, Calvin taught Ike his first guitar licks. Calvin also taught Elvis Presley how to gyrate, using his own "Calvin's Boogie" as inspiration for hip-shaking.