Jesse Fuller (March 12, 1896 – January 29, 1976) was an American blues, "on… Read Full Bio ↴Jesse Fuller (March 12, 1896 – January 29, 1976) was an American blues, "one-man band", musician, best known for his song "San Francisco Bay Blues".
Fuller was born in Jonesboro, Georgia, near Atlanta. He was sent by his mother to live with foster parents when he was a young child, in a rural setting where he was badly mistreated. Growing up, he worked a multitude of jobs: grazing cows for ten cents a day, working in a barrel factory, a broom factory, a rock quarry, on a railroad and a streetcar company, shining shoes, and even peddling hand-carved wooden snakes.
He came west and in the 1920s worked briefly as a film extra in The Thief of Bagdad and East of Suez. Eventually he settled in Oakland, California, across the bay from San Francisco, where he worked for the Southern Pacific railroad. During World War II, he worked as a shipyard welder, but when the war ended he found it increasingly difficult to find work. Around the early 1950s, Fuller's thoughts turned toward the possibility of making a living playing music.
Up to this point, Fuller had never worked professionally as a musician, but had certainly been exposed to music, and had learned to play guitar and picked up quite a number of songs: country blues, work songs, ballads, spirituals and instrumentals. And he had carried his guitar with him and played for money by passing the hat. When he decided to try to work as a professional, he found it hard to find other musicians to work with: thus his one-man band act was born.
Starting locally, in clubs and bars in San Francisco and across the bay in Oakland and Berkeley, Fuller became more widely known when he performed on television in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and in 1958 his recording career started with his first album on the Good Time Jazz record label. Fuller's instruments included 12-string guitar, harmonica, kazoo, cymbal (high-hat) and fotdella, several of which could be played simultaneously, particularly with the use of a head-piece to hold the harmonica and kazoo, often at the same time.
Much later, the Grateful Dead covered a few of Fuller's songs, including "The Monkey and the Engineer" and "Beat It on Down the Line". Others who have covered his work include Hot Tuna, Peter, Paul and Mary, Glenn Yarbrough, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, and Bob Dylan, on his debut in 1962.
The fotdella
The fotdella was a musical instrument of Fuller's own creation and construction. As a one-man band, the problem was how to supply a more substantial accompaniment than the typical high-hat (cymbal) or bass drum used by street musicians. Fuller's solution was the fotdella. It was a foot-operated percussion bass, consisting of a large upright wood box, shaped like the top of a double bass. Attached to a short neck at the top of this box were six bass strings, stretched over the body. And finally, there was the means to play those strings: six foot pedals, each connected to a padded hammer which struck the string, in a homemade wooden contraption.
The six notes of the fotdella allowed him to play a bass line in several keys, though he occasionally would play without it if a song exceeded its limited range.
The name was coined by his wife, who took to calling the instrument a "foot-diller" (as in a "killer-diller" instrument played with the foot), which was shortened to fotdella.
Fuller died in January 1976 in Oakland, California, from heart disease. He was 79 years of age. He was interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland.
Fuller was born in Jonesboro, Georgia, near Atlanta. He was sent by his mother to live with foster parents when he was a young child, in a rural setting where he was badly mistreated. Growing up, he worked a multitude of jobs: grazing cows for ten cents a day, working in a barrel factory, a broom factory, a rock quarry, on a railroad and a streetcar company, shining shoes, and even peddling hand-carved wooden snakes.
He came west and in the 1920s worked briefly as a film extra in The Thief of Bagdad and East of Suez. Eventually he settled in Oakland, California, across the bay from San Francisco, where he worked for the Southern Pacific railroad. During World War II, he worked as a shipyard welder, but when the war ended he found it increasingly difficult to find work. Around the early 1950s, Fuller's thoughts turned toward the possibility of making a living playing music.
Up to this point, Fuller had never worked professionally as a musician, but had certainly been exposed to music, and had learned to play guitar and picked up quite a number of songs: country blues, work songs, ballads, spirituals and instrumentals. And he had carried his guitar with him and played for money by passing the hat. When he decided to try to work as a professional, he found it hard to find other musicians to work with: thus his one-man band act was born.
Starting locally, in clubs and bars in San Francisco and across the bay in Oakland and Berkeley, Fuller became more widely known when he performed on television in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and in 1958 his recording career started with his first album on the Good Time Jazz record label. Fuller's instruments included 12-string guitar, harmonica, kazoo, cymbal (high-hat) and fotdella, several of which could be played simultaneously, particularly with the use of a head-piece to hold the harmonica and kazoo, often at the same time.
Much later, the Grateful Dead covered a few of Fuller's songs, including "The Monkey and the Engineer" and "Beat It on Down the Line". Others who have covered his work include Hot Tuna, Peter, Paul and Mary, Glenn Yarbrough, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, and Bob Dylan, on his debut in 1962.
The fotdella
The fotdella was a musical instrument of Fuller's own creation and construction. As a one-man band, the problem was how to supply a more substantial accompaniment than the typical high-hat (cymbal) or bass drum used by street musicians. Fuller's solution was the fotdella. It was a foot-operated percussion bass, consisting of a large upright wood box, shaped like the top of a double bass. Attached to a short neck at the top of this box were six bass strings, stretched over the body. And finally, there was the means to play those strings: six foot pedals, each connected to a padded hammer which struck the string, in a homemade wooden contraption.
The six notes of the fotdella allowed him to play a bass line in several keys, though he occasionally would play without it if a song exceeded its limited range.
The name was coined by his wife, who took to calling the instrument a "foot-diller" (as in a "killer-diller" instrument played with the foot), which was shortened to fotdella.
Fuller died in January 1976 in Oakland, California, from heart disease. He was 79 years of age. He was interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland.
You're No Good
Jesse Fuller Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'You're No Good' by these artists:
Andrew Oldham Orchestra & Chorus Ask any of the chickies in my pen They'll tell I'm…
ÁÕ´ï ÀÊË¿÷ì Linda Ronstadt Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better 'cause …
Aswad Feelin' better Now that we're through. Feelin' better, 'caus…
Betty Everett Feeling better, now that we're through Feeling better, 'cau…
Bob Dylan Well, I don't know why I love you like I…
C. Young You know that you're no good You know that you're no…
Chromatics Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do I know you're no goo…
Crispian St. Peters I give you glory with this anthem I never question you're…
D-Mention You were the only one that mattered to me I treated…
Dee Clark Little girl, where did you come from? A-don't you know That…
Dee Dee Warwick Feeling better, now that we're through Feeling better 'caus…
Don Campbell The primitive and Traditional initiation rites Have to do wi…
E.S.G. (80s) Ha yeah Ha yeah No yeah Duh yeah Duh yeah Duh yeah Duh yeah …
Earl-Jean Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better, 'cause…
Ellie Campbell Say it again Say it again No no Say it again Say it…
ESG Baby, you really need ya Baby, you really want ya Baby, you…
Everett Betty Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better 'cause …
Frankie Rose and The Outs The D.A. is dressed to the nines In the mirror he…
Gene Thompson and the Counts You're just a no account You never will amount to nothin'…
Jeff St. John How can you be so dark and disgusting When she's all…
Johnny Cash Come heed me, my brothers, come heed, one and all Don't…
José Feliciano Feeling better, now that we're through Feeling better, caus…
Justice She stopped by the house today to grab the last…
Kelly Charles You're no good for me, I don't need nobody Don't need…
Ken Boothe You're no good for what you have done, baby You broke…
Ken Boothe/Prince Jammy You're no good for what you have done, baby You broke…
KMFDM Deceitful unforgiving Whoever the hell you think I am Bring …
Kristy Lee Cook (by Linda Ronstadt) Feeling better now that we're through…
Linda Ronstadt Feeling better, now that we're through Feeling better 'cause…
LIVING ROOM - Linda Ronstadt Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better 'cause …
Lulu Feeling better, now that we're through Feeling better, caus…
Major Lazer You're no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Major Lazer Danielle Haim Yasmin Santigold Vybz Kartel You’re no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Major Lazer Feat. Danielle Haim Vybz Kartel Santigold Yasmin You're no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Major Lazer feat. Elephant Man & Opal You’re no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Major Lazer feat. Santigold Vybz Kartel Danielle Haim & Yasmin You're no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Major Lazer feat. Santigold, Vybz Kartel, Danielle Haim & Yasmin You're no good for me But the way you movin at…
Major Lazer Featuring Danielle Haim Santigold Vybz Kartel Yasmin You’re no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Major Lazer Santigold Vybz Kartel Danielle Haim & Yasmin You're no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Major Lazer, Santigold, Vybz Kartel, Danielle Haim & Yasmin You’re no good for me But the way you movin at…
Major Lazer/Santigold/Vybz Kartel/Danielle Haim/Yasmin You're no good for me But the way you movin' at…
Michael Bolton Feelin' better now that we're through Feelin' better 'cause…
Nasty On Can't keep living out a lie like you invested in…
Plastiscines Feeling better, now that we're through Feeling better, cause…
Proper Dos a what's up this is Ernie g with proper dos and…
Queen And now, ladies and gentlemen The Keeper of the Keys, the…
Reba McEntire Feelin' better Now that we're through Feelin' better 'Cause …
Ronstadt Linda Feeling better, now that we're through Feeling better 'caus…
Sarah Ross Feelin' better, now that we're through Feelin' better 'cause…
Sideways Paving Co. Once upon a time I was with you And overtime I,…
Sons of Freedom Baby don't go rattling my monkey cage Yeah and don't try…
Swinging Blue Jeans Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better, 'caus…
The Ace-Tones He's a no good lover Baby I tried him out He's handsome…
The Aggrovators & Prince Jammy You're no good for what you have done, baby You broke…
The Harvey Averne Dozen VAGALUMEHome Playlist de Hoje Top100 Artistas Top100 Músicas…
The Swinging Blue Jeans Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better, 'caus…
The Swinging Blue-Jeans Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better, 'cause…
Van Halen Hah Well I'm feelin' better, now that we're through Feelin' …
Weyes Blood Feelin' better now that we're through Feelin' better 'cause …
Wild Orchid Don't worry about me, don't worry about you 'cause everythi…
Wilson Phillips Feelin' better, now that we're through Feelin' better, 'caus…
彭靖惠 You're no good, I know That's what I've been told You're not…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jesse Fuller:
Runnin' Wild My gal and I, we had a fight And I'm…
San Francisco Bay Blues I got the blues from my baby left me by…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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peterpib2
A one man band too! What a talented guy.
DslimHarris
Great stuff! Jesse is the primo one man band! He taught Bob Dylan the rack harp style in Denver. Dylan's cover is good but you can't beat the original! Plus Jesse is playing everything here, including his invention - the fotdella, a foot operated acoustic bass. Jesse was very influential in the sixties. Fans may want my brand new book - Head, Hands and Feet - A Book of One Man Bands. Message me if interested!
PHJimY
This came from Dylan's first album. He was 19 years old and not yet a prolific songwriter and many of the songs on that record were old folk-songs and songs that he'd learned from other people. His House Of The Rising Sun's chord changes were learned from Dave Van Ronk and Dave said that he had to quit singing it because people kept saying,"You learned that from Dylan."
omgitsmattsutube
Bob Dylan was friends with Woody well before he was even remotely famous,and Bob is one of the few musicians who always gives credit to other musicians even if he legally doesn't have to, such as a traditional folk song that has no copy right laws Bob will often just credit the first person to record the song or in a lot of cases the person who made the song big. The reason I know this is because i wouldn't know half the musicians i know now if it weren't for Bob giving credit to their songs
K.T.B.
This version is great. Bob Dylan's version is also great.
DirtyJacket1
You must be an idiot not to realize that Dylan's first album was a medley of mostly classic folk and blues songs, with some originals. He didn't steal, he just covered songs. People accusing Dylan of stealing must be oblivious that Dylan loved classical folk music and blues. To the guy saying Dylan is mentioned every time Guthrie's name is mentioned, you are dead wrong. I knew Guthrie before Dylan. Dylan loved Guthrie in his early years. If Woody had never been around, neither would have Dylan.
Brazilian Atlantis
You guys sound like Led Zeppelin's apologists. Whoever thinks Bob should have assigned himself 100 percent writing credit for "Rollin' And Tumblin'," raise your hand.
79tazman
Anyone accusing Dylan of stealing songs don't understand music and does not know the definition of stealing
Dane Broome
DirtyJacket1 yes definitely worth reading Dylan’s chronicles when he opens up and states his early influences. Was also a big fan of Hank Williams though Woody was the real reason he packed up from MN to head east for Greenwich Village
Boumante
thank you Jesse Fuller!