b. 12 March 1896, Jonesboro, Georgia, USA, d. 29 January 1976, Oakland, California, USA. A veteran of tent shows, Fuller fashioned himself a unique one-man band of six-string bass (played with his right foot), a combination of kazoo, harmonica and microphone fixed to a harness around his neck, a hi-hat cymbal (played with the left foot) and a 12-string guitar. Fuller was also known for preceding many of his songs with a spoken intro. He came to fame in the late 50s as a result of appearances on US television, where he followed Ramblin' Jack Elliot's lionization via his recording of "San Francisco Bay Blues". In the 50s he made three albums of original and traditional material and by the mid-60s became a darling of the "coffee-house circuit" after Bob Dylan cited him as one of his influences. Similar success followed in the UK resulting from Donovan's performance of "San Francisco Bay Blues" on UK Independent Television's Ready Steady Go music programme in 1965. Although Fuller's output was meagre, his influence has been considerable. Eric Clapton provoked renewed interest with an excellent version of "San Francisco Bay Blues" on his MTV Unplugged album in 1992. Original Blues Classics have reissued his albums on CD with the original covers. Although often repetitive his originality is irresistible.
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YouTube Videos
San Francisco Bay Blues -- Jesse Fuller (02:50)
If you check out other musicians on YouTube who play this song, you will see that everyone has their own twist on how they play it. First recorded by Jesse Fuller in the mid '50s, it has been covered by numerous...
San Francisco Bay Blues By Lionel, composed by Jesse Fuller (03:18)
On stereo... http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=0rNbnEZMSUQ&fmt=18 me playing san francisco bay blues (Jesse Fuller) Singing: Lionel 12 string guitar: Lionel Bottle neck: Lionel 5 string banjo: Lionel Washboard: Lionel...
Live
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The Velvet Hearts
- Frog and Wicket, Eversley Cross
- Jan 10, 2009
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Animal Collective
- KOKO, London
- Jan 12, 2009
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The News - - Manchester - -
- See Myspace for gigs..., Manchester
- Jan 12, 2009
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Bruno Gallone
- Ducking Stool, Leominster
- Jan 14, 2009
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Soft Toy Emergency
- Carling Academy, Liverpool
- Jan 17, 2009
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Soft Toy Emergency
- Academy, Liverpool
- Jan 17, 2009
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Bruno Gallone
- Railway Hotel, Evesham
- Jan 18, 2009
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All That Remains
- Carling Academy 2, Birmingham
- Jan 19, 2009
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All That Remains
- Academy 2, Birmingham
- Jan 19, 2009
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All That Remains
- Academy, Manchester
- Jan 21, 2009
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Discography
albums.
- Workin' On The Railroad - 1954 (World Songs)
- 'Frisco Bound - 1955/58 (Cavalier)
- Jazz, Folk Songs, Spirituals & Blues - 1958 (Good Time Jazz)
- The Lone Cat - 1961 (Good Time Jazz)
- San Francisco Bay Blues - 1964 (Folklore)
- Favorites - 1965 (Stateside)
- Move On Down The Line - 1965 (Topic)
