[78-L] Zeke Campbell and Charlie Christian

[78-L Mail List]

Zeke Campbell's solo on "Blue Eyed Sally" sounds similar to Charlie Christian in its phrasing, which supports the notion that Campbell influenced Christian, since it was recorded in 1938:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3M6ifcnAU0

Solo starts at 1:05, but there's also obbligato before that. Of course Christian didn't need to listen to Light Crust Doughboys records, necessarily: they broadcast on the radio. Campbell started playing electric guitar on the radio in late 1936 or early 1937 and first recorded on it in June 1937, including on the blues "Blue Guitars":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw7vYJfqcpA

(That wasn't the first blues recording with Spanish electric guitar -- Al Dexter's "Honky Tonk Blues" was earlier e.g.)

Joseph Scott