Harold Edwin Burrage (March 30, 1931 – November 26, 1966)[1] was an American blues and soul singer, pianist, songwriter, and record producer.[2]

Harold Burrage
Background information
Born(1931-03-30)March 30, 1931
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 26, 1966(1966-11-26) (aged 35)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresRhythm & Blues, Soul
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocal, piano
LabelsDecca, Aladdin, States, Cobra, Vee-Jay, M-Pac, Paso, Foxy

Biography edit

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Burrage did session work as a pianist in the 1950s and 1960s as well as recording under his own name.[2] He released singles on Decca, Aladdin, States, and Cobra in the 1950s, and for Vee-Jay and M-Pac in the 1960s.[3] Burrage's backing bands included the likes of Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Wayne Bennett, and Jody Williams, while Burrage supported Magic Sam, Charles Clark, and others as a pianist.[4]

Burrage's first recording was "Hi-Yo Silver", written by Burrage and Claude Trenier,[2] for Decca Records in 1950, backed by Horace Henderson's band.[5]

Burrage's only national hit as singer was the 1965 Chicago soul song "Got to Find a Way",[2] which reached number 31 on the US Billboard R&B chart.[6] The following year Burrage died in Chicago, aged 35, from heart failure at the home of Tyrone Davis,[1] a musician Burrage influenced.[7]

Discography edit

From The Soul Discography[8]

Harold Burrage with Horace Henderson & His Orchestra, Chicago, IL (1950)
  • "I Need My Baby", Decca 48175
  • "Hi Yo Silver", Decca 48175
  • "I Ain't Mad at No One", Charly CRB 1128

Harold Burrage with Jimmy Binkley Orchestra, Chicago, IL (1951)

  • "Way Down Boogie", Aladdin 3194
  • "Sweet Brown Girl", Aladdin 3194

Harold Burrage and Combo, Chicago, IL (1954)

  • "I Feel So Fine", States 144
  • "You’re Gonna Cry", States 144

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL (1956)

  • "One More Dance", Cobra 5004
  • "You Eat Too Much", Cobra 5004
  • "Hot Dog and a Bottle Of Pop", Flyright (E) FLY 579

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL (1957)

  • "Messed Up", Cobra 5012
  • "I Love My Baby", P-Vine Special (J) PLP
  • "I Don't Care Who Knows", Cobra 5012
  • "Stop for the Red Light", Flyright (E) FLY 579
  • "Stop for the Red Light", Cobra 5018
  • "I’m Satisfied", Flyright (E) FLY 579
  • "Satisfied", Cobra 5018
  • "Hey Little Girl", Unissued

Harold Burrage With Willie Dixon Band, Chicago, IL (1957)

  • "Crazy About My Baby", P-Vine Special (J) PLP
  • "She Knocks Me Out", Cobra 5022, Faro 5030
  • "My Love Has Been in Vain", Unissued
  • "A Heart Filled With Pain", Cobra 5022, Faro 5030

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL (1958)

  • "I Cry For You", Flyright (E) FLY 594
  • "I Cry For You", Cobra 5026, Vivid 102
  • "Betty Jean", Cobra 5026, Vivid 102

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL (1959)

  • "I’ve Got A Reason", Unissued
  • "What You Don't Know", Vee Jay 318
  • "Baby When", Unissued
  • "Crying For You Baby", Vee Jay 318
  • "Hi ho Silver", Unissued
  • "You K.O.’d Me", Vee Jay 356
  • "Great Day in the Morning", Vee Jay 356

Harold Burrage With Milt Bland Orchestra, Chicago, IL (1960)

  • "Please Love Me", Paso 101
  • "Pretty Little Liddy", Paso 101
  • "A Fool (For Hiding My Love From You)", Paso 102
  • "Say You Love Me", Paso 102

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL (1962)

  • "I Was Wrong", Foxy 009
  • "You Ought To Love Me", Foxy 009
  • "Master Key", M-Pac 7201
  • "Faith (And Understanding)", M-Pac 7201

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL (1963)

  • "Mister Wall (Mister Window)", P-Vine Special (J) PLP 9003
  • "Long Ways Together", M-Pac 7204
  • "I’ll Take One", M-Pac 7204
  • "You Mean The World To Me", P-Vine Special (J) PLP 9003
  • "Everybody's Dancing’", M-Pac 7210
  • "Your Friend (That's A Friend)", M-Pac 7210, 7222
  • "Baby I’m Alright", M-Pac 7211
  • "Fifty-fifty", M-Pac 7211

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL, (1965)

  • "Take Me Now", M-Pac 7222, 7234
  • "Got To Find A Way", M-Pac 7225
  • "How To Fix Your Mouth (To Say What You Say)", M-Pac 7225
  • "You Made Me So Happy", M-Pac 7227, 7234
  • "Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Since You Been Gone)", M-Pac 7227
  • "I’m in Love", P-Vine Special (J) PLP 9003
  • "Hang My Head And Cry", P-Vine Special (J) PLP 9003
  • "More Power To You", P-Vine Special (J) PLP 9003

Harold Burrage, Chicago, IL (1966)

  • "More Power To You", M-Pac 7229
  • "A Long Way Together", M-Pac 7229

Additional recordings edit

  • Pioneer Of Chicago Soul, P-Vine Special PLP 9003 (1979)
  • Messed Up! The Cobra Recordings 1956–58, Westside WESM 634 (2001)

References edit

  1. ^ a b Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues – A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 68. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  3. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 67/69. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
  4. ^ Harold Burrage at AllMusic
  5. ^ All music guide to soul: the definitive guide to R & B and soul. Backbeat Books. 2003. p. 102. ISBN 0879307447.
  6. ^ Billboard, Allmusic
  7. ^ Got to Find a Way at AllMusic
  8. ^ McGrath, Bob (2010). The Soul Discography. Eyeball Productions. ISBN 978-0986641701.

External links edit