Pete Mayes(bornFloyd Davis Mayes,March 21, 1938 – December 16, 2008)[1]was an AmericanTexas bluessinger,guitaristandsongwriter.He was variously known asTexas Pete MayesandT-Bone Man(because his guitar playing resembled that of his heroT-Bone Walker).
Pete Mayes | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Floyd Davis Mayes |
| Born | March 21, 1938 Double Bayou,Texas,United States |
| Died | December 16, 2008(aged 70) Houston,Texas, United States |
| Genres | Texas blues,electric blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer,guitarist,songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals,guitar |
| Years active | 1950s–2008 |
| Labels | Various |
Mayes made fewrecordingsbutFor Pete's Sakewas released in 1998, nearly fifty years after he first appeared on stage. It was his most widely distributed recording and won theBlues Foundation'sW. C. Handy Awardin the category Comeback Album of the Year.[2]
Biography
editMayes was born and raised inDouble Bayou,Texas.[1]The town was home to adance hall,which played a significant part in his life.[3]As a child he learned with a cheap guitar without a full set of strings and practiced for hours each day. Mayes was aged 16 when T-Bone Walker invited him on stage to perform.[2]
In the early 1950s, Mayes played with variousbandsat the local dance hall. After several years he led his own group, opening the show for touring musicians.[3]While in theUnited States Army,Mayes worked with the Contrasts, which comprised three white and three black musicians.[2]Mayes learned from watching T-Bone Walker andGatemouth Brown,and he later cited Walker,B.B. King,Kenny Burrell,plusLowell Fulsonas major influences.[3]
In 1960 Mayes relocated toHouston,and during the following decade he played with Fulson,Big Joe Turner,Percy Mayfield,Bill Doggett,andJunior Parker.Mayes also toured with thejazzmusiciansCount BasieandDizzy Gillespie.[3]Unable to make a living as a full-time musician, Mayes worked as aranch handand then as apainterfor theHouston Independent School District.He retired from the latter job with disability pay.[2][3]
Mayes performed whenever possible. He undertook tours in the 1970s and played frequently in the 1990s, even though his health had started to fail.[2]In 1983, he inherited from an uncle ownership of the local dance hall.[3]In 1986, Double Trouble Records of theNetherlandsissuedTexas Guitar Master,which included a live "Battle of the Guitars" withJoe "Guitar" Hughes.[4]In 1996, Mayes appeared at theLong Beach Blues Festival.
By the timeFor Pete's Sakewas released (1998), Mayes was still actively managing the Double Bayou dance hall. Following years of ill health, which included heart problems,diabetesand the amputation of both legs, he died inHoustonin December 2008, aged 70.[2]He was survived by his wife, a son and a brother.[2]
Selected discography
editAlbums
editSingles
edit- "The Things I Used To Do", Home Cooking Records (1965)
- "Crazy Woman", Ovide (1969)
- "Movin' Out", Ovide (1969)[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abEagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013).Blues: A Regional Experience.Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 403.ISBN978-0313344237.
- ^abcdefgDansby, Andrew."Texas Blues Legend Pete Mayes Dies".Houston Chronicle.RetrievedDecember 29,2009.
- ^abcdefSkelly, Richard."Pete Mayes: Biography".AllMusic.Retrieved2014-01-28.
- ^Russell, Tony (1997).The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray.Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 120.ISBN1-85868-255-X.
- ^"Pete Mayes: Discography".AllMusic.Retrieved2014-01-28.
- ^"Pete Mayes: Big Road Blues".Sundayblues.org.Retrieved2014-01-28.