Bluesman Eddie Kirkland was killed in an auto accident on Sunday morning, February 27, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. Kirkland was 87 years old at the time of his death.
Born in Jamaica and raised in Dothan, Alabama, Kirkland began his career in music at the age of 12 when he went off on tour with the Sugar Girls Medicine Show. Three years later he landed in Detroit, where he honed his blues chops performing on local stages. In 1948, Kirkland hooked up with the legendary John Lee Hooker, with whom he toured and recorded for over seven and a half years. During the 1960s, Kirkland was bandleader for a number of R&B stars of the era, including Little Richard, Otis Redding, Ruth Brown, and Ben E. King.
While working as a sideman and bandleader, Kirkland also established a critically-acclaimed solo career. The singer, guitarist, and harp player first recorded for the RPM Records label in 1952, following with singles for King Records in 1953 and Fortune Records in 1959. Kirkland recorded his first full-length album, It's The Blues Man!, for Tru-Sound Records, an imprint of Prestige, in 1962. Through the years, Kirkland recorded for a number of labels, including Trix Records, Stax Records (as Eddie Kirk), and England's JSP Records. Kirkland continued to record into the 2000s, including 2004's Democrat Blues and his last album, 2005's Booty Blues.
At the time of his death, Kirkland had continued to tour for eight to ten months each year, bringing his unique blend of blues, soul, and R&B to audiences across the country and worldwide. Our thoughts go out to Kirkland's family, friends, and many fans....
Photo courtesy www.eddiekirkland.com
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