Dupree's birth date is disputed, given as July 4, July 10, and July 23, in the years 1908, 1909, or 1910. He died January 21, 1992, in Hanover, Germany. Dupree's playing is almost all straight blues and boogie woogie, with no ballads or pop songs, not even blues ballads. He was not a sophisticated musician or singer, but he had a wry and clever way with words: "Mama, move your false teeth, papa wanna scratch your gums." He sometimes sang as if he had a cleft palate and even recorded under the name Harelip Jack Dupree. This was an artistic conceit, as Dupree had excellent clear articulation, particularly for a blues singer.
He sang about life as he found it, singing about jail, drinking, drug addiction, although he himself was a light drinker and did not use other drugs. His "Junker's Blues" is still sung in New Orleans, and was also transmogrified by Fats Domino into his first hit "The Fat Man". Dupree's songs included not only gloomy topics, such as "TB Blues" and "Angola Blues" (about the infamous Louisiana prison farm), but also cheerful subjects like the "Dupree Shake Dance": "Come on, mama, on your hands and knees, do that shake dance as you please".
On his best known LP, 1958's "Blues from the Gutter" for Atlantic, he was accompanied on guitar by Larry Dale, whose playing on that LP inspired Brian Jones (of Rolling Stones fame) ("Yeah! I have to play this… what a sound").
Dupree was a New Orleans blues and boogie-woogie pianist, a barrelhouse "professor". His father was from the Belgian Congo and his mother was part African American and Cherokee. His birth date has been given as July 4, July 10, and July 23, 1908, 1909, or 1910; the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc give July 4, 1910.
He was orphaned at the age of eight and was sent to the Colored Waifs Home in New Orleans, an institution for orphaned or delinquent boys (about the same time, Louis Armstrong was also sent there as a child, after being arrested as a "dangerous and suspicious character". Dupree taught himself to play the piano there and later apprenticed with Tuts Washington and Willie Hall, whom he called his father and from whom he learned "Junker's Blues". He was also a "spy boy" for the Yellow Pocahontas tribe of the Mardi Gras Indians. He soon began playing in barrelhouses and other drinking establishments.
He began a life of travelling, living in Chicago, where he worked with Georgia Tom, and in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he met Scrapper Blackwell and Leroy Carr. He also worked as a cook. In Detroit, after Joe Louis encouraged him to become a boxer, he fought 107 bouts, winning Golden Gloves and other championships and picking up the nickname Champion Jack, which he used the rest of his life.
He returned to Chicago at the age of 30 and joined a circle of recording artists, including Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red, who introduced him to the record producer Lester Melrose. Many of Dupree's songs were later credited to Melrose as composer, and Melrose claimed publishing rights to them.
Dupree's career was interrupted by military service in World War II. He was a cook in the United States Navy and was held by the Japanese for two years as a prisoner of war.
After the war, his biggest commercial success was "Walkin' the Blues", which he recorded as a duet with Teddy McRae. This led to several national tours and eventually a European tour. In 1959 he played an unofficial (and unpaid) duo gig with Alexis Korner at the London School of Economics.
Dupree moved to Europe in 1960, settling first in Switzerland and then Denmark, England, Sweden and, finally, Germany. On June 17, 1971, he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, in the Casino Kursaal, with King Curtis, backed by Cornell Dupree on guitar, Jerry Jemmott on bass and Oliver Jackson on drums. The recording of the concert was released in 1973 as the album King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree: Blues at Montreux on the Atlantic label.
During the 1970s and 1980s he lived at Ovenden in Halifax, England. A piano he used was later discovered at Calderdale College in Halifax. He continued to record in Europe with the Kenn Lending Band, Louisiana Red and Axel Zwingenberger and made many live appearances. He also worked again as a cook, specializing in New Orleans cuisine. He returned to the United States from time to time and performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
It seemed that Dupree could not escape from the prejudice and racism anywhere he settled in the United States. Finally in late 1958, he decided to move to Europe. Over the next 32 years, he lived in a number of locales in Switzerland, France, England, Denmark and Germany. He also recorded a multitude of wonderful albums during this time for a long list of European labels. Among these is the outstanding live recording, "Blues at Montreux" on Atco that also featured sax great, King Curtis.
He died from complications of cancer on January 21, 1992 in Hanover. As one of the most prolific recording Bluesmen of all time, he left a large catalog of material. Champion Jack Dupree was posthumously honored by the Blues Foundation, receiving election into their Hall of Fame, along with "Blues From The Gutter" being selected as an entry as a "Classic of Blues" recording (Albums).
T.B. Blues
Champion Jack Dupree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Champion Jack Dupree
(Jack Dupree)
Jack Dupree - vocal & piano
Ennis Lowry - guitar
Wendell Marshall - bass, Willie Jones - drums.
Album: 'Blues From The Gutter'
And the T.B. is all in my bones
All in my bones
Yes, I got the T.B.
And the T.B.'s all in my bones
All in my bones
Well, the doctor told me
That I ain't gon' be 'ere long
Well, the T.B. is alright to have
But your friends treat you so lowdown
So lowdown with the T.B.
Yes, the T.B.'s alright to have
Your friends treat you so lowdown
So lowdown
Yeah, don't ask them for no favor
They will even stop comin' 'round
Stop coming 'round you
Well, I sent for the doctor
See what the doctor could do for me
Yes, I sent for the doctor
See what he could do for me
Do for me
He said, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry'
Lord have mercy on me
Oh yeah!
(guitar & instrumental)
Wow!
Yeah!
(Oh, yeah!)
Well, I know you're gon' miss me
Baby, when I'm dead and gone
Baby, when I'm dead and gone
Yes, you gon' miss me, amen
Baby, when I'm dead and gone
Well, you say I got the T.B.
Now-ow-ow
I'm dead and gone.
~
The lyrics of "T.B. Blues" by Champion Jack Dupree deal with the experience of tuberculosis, a disease that was rampant during the time the song was recorded. Dupree tells the story of being diagnosed with tuberculosis and the impact it has on his life, including being treated poorly by his friends and the realization that he may not have much time left. The repetition of the phrase "all in my bones" emphasizes the severity of the disease and the pain it causes.
The song also highlights the social stigma around tuberculosis, with Dupree lamenting how his friends treat him "so lowdown" and warning not to ask them for any favors. This stigma was prevalent in the early 20th century, with many people believing that the disease was a result of personal moral failings. Dupree's lyrics shine a light on the struggles those diagnosed with tuberculosis faced, not only with the disease itself but with the societal attitudes towards it.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I got the T.B.
I have contracted tuberculosis.
And the T.B. is all in my bones
The tuberculosis has affected my entire body, including my bones.
Yes, I got the T.B.
I have contracted tuberculosis.
And the T.B.'s all in my bones
The tuberculosis has affected my entire body, including my bones.
Well, the doctor told me
The doctor informed me.
That I ain't gon' be 'ere long
I will not be alive much longer.
Well, the T.B. is alright to have
Having tuberculosis is not necessarily the worst thing.
But your friends treat you so lowdown
Despite tuberculosis not being the worst thing, people do not treat you well because of it.
So lowdown with the T.B.
People treat you poorly when they know you have tuberculosis.
Yes, the T.B.'s alright to have
Having tuberculosis is not necessarily the worst thing.
Your friends treat you so lowdown
Despite tuberculosis not being the worst thing, people do not treat you well because of it.
So lowdown
People treat you poorly when they know you have tuberculosis.
Yeah, don't ask them for no favor
Do not ask them for any help or favors.
They will even stop comin' 'round
People will stop visiting or interacting with you.
Well, I sent for the doctor
I reached out to the doctor.
See what the doctor could do for me
To see if the doctor could help me in any way.
Yes, I sent for the doctor
I reached out to the doctor.
See what he could do for me
To see if the doctor could help me in any way.
Do for me
Help me in some way.
He said, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry'
The doctor apologized for not being able to help.
Lord have mercy on me
Asking for divine help or mercy.
Well, I know you're gon' miss me
I know that you will miss me when I am gone.
Baby, when I'm dead and gone
When I am deceased.
Baby, when I'm dead and gone
When I am deceased.
Yes, you gon' miss me, amen
You will definitely miss me.
Baby, when I'm dead and gone
When I am deceased.
Well, you say I got the T.B.
You are pointing out that I have tuberculosis.
Now-ow-ow
Expressing pain or discomfort.
I'm dead and gone.
Acknowledging mortality and the inevitability of death due to tuberculosis.
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jake Fantom
on She Cooks Me Cabbage
The only line that confuses me is "and she called them turnip greens." Anyone got an idea what Champion Jack is trying to convey here? Why would she cook him cabbage and call it turnip greens?