Slim Harpo
Slim Harpo (11 January 1924 – 31 January 1970) was a blues musician.
Read Full Bio ↴Slim Harpo (11 January 1924 – 31 January 1970) was a blues musician.
Born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, Moore worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. One of the foremost proponents of post-war rural blues, he began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim. He later accompanied Lightning Slim, his brother-in-law, both live and in the studio, before commencing his own recording career in 1957.
Named Slim Harpo by producer Jay Miller, the artist's solo debut coupled "I'm A King Bee" with "I Got Love If You Want It". Influenced by Jimmy Reed, he began recording for Excello and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles which combined a drawling vocal with incisive harmonica passages. Among them were "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), "I Love The Life I Live", "Buzzin'" (instrumental) and "Little Queen Bee" (1964). On these hits he was accompanied by understated electric backing from the regular stable of Excello musicians — including Lazy Lester, whom Harpo influenced.
The singer was known as one of the masters of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was a humorous takeoff on "slim harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.
Harpo was the point man of the 1950s Louisiana Swamp/Blues movement. Harpo, along with Lightning Slim, Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, and a dozen other downhome artists recorded for A&R man J.D. Miller in Crowley, Louisiana. The records were then issued on the Excello label, based in Nashville.
Harpo's relaxed, almost lazy, performances set the tone for his subsequent work. His warm, languid voice enhanced the sexual metaphor of "I'm A King Bee", which was later recorded by the Rolling Stones. The same group also covered the pulsating "Shake Your Hips", which Harpo first issued in 1966, while the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds and Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's hit "Shake Your Hips" was used in the ZZ Top hit "La Grange," and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album, Exile On Main Street. Harpo enjoyed a notable US Top 20 pop hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back" (also a number 1 R&B hit), which revitalized his career.
Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s, although he was a popular figure in the late 1960s blues revival, with appearances at several renowned venues including the Electric Circus and the Fillmore East. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack on 31 January 1970 at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana.
Born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, Moore worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. One of the foremost proponents of post-war rural blues, he began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim. He later accompanied Lightning Slim, his brother-in-law, both live and in the studio, before commencing his own recording career in 1957.
Named Slim Harpo by producer Jay Miller, the artist's solo debut coupled "I'm A King Bee" with "I Got Love If You Want It". Influenced by Jimmy Reed, he began recording for Excello and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles which combined a drawling vocal with incisive harmonica passages. Among them were "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), "I Love The Life I Live", "Buzzin'" (instrumental) and "Little Queen Bee" (1964). On these hits he was accompanied by understated electric backing from the regular stable of Excello musicians — including Lazy Lester, whom Harpo influenced.
The singer was known as one of the masters of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was a humorous takeoff on "slim harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.
Harpo was the point man of the 1950s Louisiana Swamp/Blues movement. Harpo, along with Lightning Slim, Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, and a dozen other downhome artists recorded for A&R man J.D. Miller in Crowley, Louisiana. The records were then issued on the Excello label, based in Nashville.
Harpo's relaxed, almost lazy, performances set the tone for his subsequent work. His warm, languid voice enhanced the sexual metaphor of "I'm A King Bee", which was later recorded by the Rolling Stones. The same group also covered the pulsating "Shake Your Hips", which Harpo first issued in 1966, while the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds and Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's hit "Shake Your Hips" was used in the ZZ Top hit "La Grange," and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album, Exile On Main Street. Harpo enjoyed a notable US Top 20 pop hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back" (also a number 1 R&B hit), which revitalized his career.
Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s, although he was a popular figure in the late 1960s blues revival, with appearances at several renowned venues including the Electric Circus and the Fillmore East. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack on 31 January 1970 at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Slim Harpo Lyrics
Baby Scratch My Back Aw, I'm itchy And I don't know where to scratch Come here…
Blues Hang-Over Lord, I wonder what could happen? Ain't nobody here but me A…
Bobby Sox Baby My bobby sox baby Just thrilled to rock n' roll My bobby…
Bobby-Sox Baby Bobby Sox Baby 1: 55 Trk 6 (James Isaac Moore and…
Bobby-Sox-Baby My bobby sox baby Just thrilled to rock n' roll My bobby…
Buzz Me Babe You buzz me babe, on your telephone You buzz me babe,…
Don't Start Crying Now You ain't never had to cry, baby Don't start cryin', now You…
Dream Girl Dream girl, I know your love for me is gone Dream…
Folsom Prison Blues I hear the train a comin', rollin' 'round the bend And…
Got Love If You Want It Got love if you want it, babe Got love if you…
Hey Little Lee Ausverkaufte Tour, aber ich rapp erst seit Corona Ich bin üb…
I One mo' day One mo' day I been alone One mo' day One…
I Got Love If You Want It Got love if you want it, babe Got love if you…
I Love the Life (I'm Livin') I love the life I'm livin' Because I'm livin' my life…
I'am A King Bee Well, I'm a king bee Buzzing around your hive Well, I'm a…
I'm A King Bee - Single Version Well, I′m a king bee Buzzing around your hive Well, I'm a…
I'm King Bee Well, I'm a king bee Buzzing around your hive Well, I'm a…
I'm So Sorry Well, you had me, where you want me Baby, did me…
I've Got Love If You Want It Got love if you want it, babe Got love if you…
Iam A King Bee Well, I'm a king bee Buzzing around your hive Well, I'm a…
I’m A King Bee Well, I'm a king bee Buzzing around your hive Well, I'm a…
Late Last Night Late last night Layin' down in my bed, alone Late last night…
Mohair Sam Who is the hippie that's happenin' all over our town? A…
My Home Is a Prison My home is a prison I'm livin' in a world of…
My Little Queen Bee My little queen bee Got a brand new king My little queen…
One More Day One mo' day One mo' day I been alone One mo' day One…
One More Day - Single Version One more day, one more day of being alone One more…
One of These Days One mo' day One mo' day I been alone One mo' day One…
Rainin in My Heart Rainin' in my heart Since we've been apart I know I was…
Scratch My Back Aw, I'm itchy And I don't know where to scratch Come here…
Shake Your Hips I wanna tell you 'bout a dance That's goin' around Ev'rybody…
Still Rainin in My Heart Still raining in my heart Baby, we still apart Now I know…
Strange Love Strange love Cutest thing I ever seen Strange love Cutest th…
Strangelove Strange love Cutest thing I ever seen Strange love Cutest…
Te Ni Nee Ni Nu I want you To be my te-ni-nee-ni-nu I want you To be my…
tip on in Ooh, lay it on me, baby Don't stop now Let your hair…
Tip On In Part 2 Ooh, lay it on me, baby Don't stop now Let your hair…
tip on in pt 1 Ooh, lay it on me, baby Don't stop now Let your hair…
Tip on In, Part 1 All spoken verses: (instrumental & harmonica) Ooh, lay it …
Tip on In, Part 2 Spoken: Now every Saturday night They fry those fish Make a …
What a Dream What a dream Layin' in my baby's arms What a dream Layin' in…
Wonderin' And Worryin' Wonderin' and worryin' Will, my baby change her mind? Wonder…
Wonderin' And Worryin' - Single Version Wonderin′ and worryin' Will, my baby change her mind? Wonder…
Wonderin´ And Worryin´ Wonderin' and worryin' Will, my baby change her mind? Wonder…
You Know I Love You Got love if you want it, babe Got love if you…
You'll Be Sorry One Day Well, you had me, where you want me Baby, did me…
You'll Be Sorry One Day - Single Version Well, you had me Where you want me Baby, did me like…
Youll Be Sorry One Day Well, you had me, where you want me Baby, did me…