Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams Jr.) went from 11 year old piano-playing prodigy to becoming one the most eccentric blues singers of his generation, or any for that matter. His progressive style was slightly ahead of its time, like a freaked-out Frank Zappa of funky blues.
Plus Dogg has a penchant for absurdly titled songs such as "I've Never Been To Africa And It's Your Fault", "The 1965 King Size Nicotine Blues" or this 1973 single "Choking To Death From The Ties That Bind". Perhaps that's because, according to Swamp Dogg, "Black music didn't start 'til 10 at night until 4 in the morning and I was in bed by then.. . . If you strip my tracks, take away all the horns and guitar licks, what you have is a country song." Enjoy.
Choking To Death From The Ties That Bind
My musical highlight of 2011 was seeing Swamp Dogg and William Bell perform at the Smithsonian Folk Life Rhythm & Blues Festival last summer. It's nice knowing that some of the greats are still alive and grooving.
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