Frank "Son" Seals (August 13, 1942-December 20, 2004) was an American blues… Read Full Bio ↴Frank "Son" Seals (August 13, 1942-December 20, 2004) was an American blues guitarist and singer.
He was born in 1942 in Osceola, Arkansas where his father, Jim "Son" Seals, owned a small club. He began performing professionally by the age of 13, first as a drummer and later as a guitarist. In 1959, he formed his own band which performed locally and he also toured with Albert King.[1]
In 1971, he moved to Chicago. His career took off after he was discovered by Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records at the Flamingo Club in Chicago's South Side. His debut, Son Seals, was released in 1973. The album included "Your Love Is Like a Cancer" and "Hot Sauce". Seals followed up with 1976's Midnight Son and 1978's Live and Burning. He continued releasing albums throughout the next two decades. He received the W.C. Handy Award, an honor for best blues recording of the year, in 1985, 1987, and 2001.
Author Andrew Vachss was a friend of Seals, and used his influence to promote Seals' music. Vachss gave Seals several cameo appearances in his novels[2] and co-wrote songs with him for his 2000 album, Lettin' Go.[3] Vachss dedicated the novel Mask Market to Seals' memory.[4]
Son had a host of troubles to deal with over his life. He survived all but one of his 14 siblings; he himself was shot twice in the face by his ex-wife, which required extensive surgeries. One of his legs was amputated, due to complications from diabetes. He lost belongings in a fire that destroyed his home while he was away performing live, and several of his prize guitars were stolen from his home. [5]
The band Phish performed Son's song "Funky Bitch" throughout their career and brought him on stage on multiple occasions, turning a whole new generation on to his music.
Seals died from complications of diabetes; he was survived by his sister and fourteen children.[6]
He was born in 1942 in Osceola, Arkansas where his father, Jim "Son" Seals, owned a small club. He began performing professionally by the age of 13, first as a drummer and later as a guitarist. In 1959, he formed his own band which performed locally and he also toured with Albert King.[1]
In 1971, he moved to Chicago. His career took off after he was discovered by Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records at the Flamingo Club in Chicago's South Side. His debut, Son Seals, was released in 1973. The album included "Your Love Is Like a Cancer" and "Hot Sauce". Seals followed up with 1976's Midnight Son and 1978's Live and Burning. He continued releasing albums throughout the next two decades. He received the W.C. Handy Award, an honor for best blues recording of the year, in 1985, 1987, and 2001.
Author Andrew Vachss was a friend of Seals, and used his influence to promote Seals' music. Vachss gave Seals several cameo appearances in his novels[2] and co-wrote songs with him for his 2000 album, Lettin' Go.[3] Vachss dedicated the novel Mask Market to Seals' memory.[4]
Son had a host of troubles to deal with over his life. He survived all but one of his 14 siblings; he himself was shot twice in the face by his ex-wife, which required extensive surgeries. One of his legs was amputated, due to complications from diabetes. He lost belongings in a fire that destroyed his home while he was away performing live, and several of his prize guitars were stolen from his home. [5]
The band Phish performed Son's song "Funky Bitch" throughout their career and brought him on stage on multiple occasions, turning a whole new generation on to his music.
Seals died from complications of diabetes; he was survived by his sister and fourteen children.[6]
Cotton Picking Blues
Son Seals Lyrics
Cotton Picking Blues performed by Son Seals
The little bee sucks the blossom; the big bee makes the honey
I do all the hard work but my boss, he takes all the money
That's why I've got to leave this country, boy,
And go to some big town
You know I've got to leave this country, boy
Lord knows that I've got to put it down
I chopped cotton all the summer, and picked cotton all the fall
Then I jumped up on that old tractor and cut stalks just like a dog
That's why I've got to leave this country, boy,
Lord, and go to some big town
You know I've got to leave this country, boy
Lord knows I've got to put it down
I walked up to my boss man and asked him for my pay
He said "You ain't got nothing coming, son"
And then he run poor me away
That's why I've got to leave this country, boy,
Lord, and go to some big town
You know I've got to leave this country, boy
Lord knows that I've got to put it down
The little bee sucks the blossom; the big bee makes the honey
I do all the hard work but my boss, he takes all the money
That's why I've got to leave this country, boy,
And go to some big town
You know I've got to leave this country, boy
Lord knows that I've got to put it down
I chopped cotton all the summer, and picked cotton all the fall
That's why I've got to leave this country, boy,
Lord, and go to some big town
You know I've got to leave this country, boy
Lord knows I've got to put it down
I walked up to my boss man and asked him for my pay
He said "You ain't got nothing coming, son"
And then he run poor me away
That's why I've got to leave this country, boy,
Lord, and go to some big town
You know I've got to leave this country, boy
Lord knows that I've got to put it down
Writer(s): Frank Seals
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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