Johnny Moore's Three Blazers

For the unrelated singer with The Drifters, see Johnny Moore (musician).

Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers were a successful and influential African-American vocal and instrumental group in the 1940s and 1950s.

The original members were:

Johnny Moore (John Dudley Moore, October 20, 1906 in Austin, Texas – January 6, 1969 in Los Angeles, California)
Charles Brown (September 13, 1920 in Texas City, Texas – January 21, 1999 in Oakland, California)
Eddie Williams (June 12, 1912 in San Augustine, Texas – February 18, 1995 in Los Angeles)

Career

Johnny Moore (who was not related to the singer named John Alfred Moore with The Drifters) and his younger brother Oscar grew up in Texas and then Phoenix, Arizona, where they both started playing guitar and formed their own string band. In the mid 1930s they relocated to Los Angeles, where Oscar Moore, who had become influenced by Charlie Christian and turned to jazz, joined the King Cole Trio.

Johnny Moore remained devoted to rhythm and blues, his guitar style being considered to be an influence on Chuck Berry. He joined and formed several groups, before forming The Three Blazers with two fellow Texans, bassist Eddie Williams and pianist/singer Charles Brown, who was newly arrived in the city. After the King Cole Trio moved from Atlas Records to Capitol in 1943, Oscar Moore suggested to Atlas boss Robert Scherman that he replace them with his brother's group. Scherman agreed to record The Blazers if Oscar Moore would play with them, and the recordings were released as by 'Oscar Moore with The Three Blazers'. Although this upset Johnny Moore, it brought the group some exposure, and in 1945 they had their first hit, backing Ivory Joe Hunter on "Blues At Sunrise".

In 1946, they had greatest success with "Driftin' Blues", sung by Charles Brown. Although Brown was the group's star attraction, Johnny Moore refused to allow him his own credit on the records. He also refused to sign an exclusive contract with any label, so that the group’s early records appeared on various labels, particularly Philo/Aladdin, Exclusive, and Modern. The group followed up the success of “Driftin' Blues” with a number of other big R&B hits, including “Sunny Road” (1946), “New Orleans Blues” (1947), and “Merry Christmas Baby” (1947, and also a hit in 1948 and 1949).

In 1948, frustrated by his lack of recognition and financial reward, Brown left the group for a successful solo career. The remaining two Blazers continued with a succession of vocalists, notably Lee Barnes, Billy Valentine, Floyd Dixon, Mari Jones, Nelson Alexander, and in the mid-1950s, Frankie Ervin. After Nat King Cole broke up his original King Cole Trio, Oscar Moore played occasionally as a guest musician with Johnny's group. Johnny Moore and his Blazers continued to record for small labels until the early 1960s.

Discography

Original 10" shellac (78rpm) and 7" vinyl (45rpm) releases

Original 10" shellac (78rpm) 2-disc album set

includes the following 78rpm discs...

Original 10" shellac (78rpm) 3-disc album set

includes the following 78rpm discs...

LP/CD releases/compilations of note

External links

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