A pioneering figure in rhythm and blues, known for his energetic stage performances and hit songs like "Train Kept A-Rollin'" and "Breakin' Up Is Hard to Do".
Tiny Bradshaw, born Myron Carlton Bradshaw, was an American jazz and rhythm and blues bandleader, singer, composer, pianist, and drummer, best known for his influential hits "Well Oh Well" and "The Train Kept A-Rollin'", which played a pivotal role in the development of rock and roll.
Born on September 23, 1907, in Youngstown, Ohio, Bradshaw was the son of Cicero P. Bradshaw and Lillian Boggess. He graduated from high school in Youngstown and went on to attend Wilberforce University, where he earned a degree in psychology. However, it was music that eventually became his calling.
Bradshaw's musical journey began in Ohio, where he sang and played drums with Horace Henderson's campus-oriented Collegians. In 1932, he relocated to New York City, where he drummed for Marion Hardy's Alabamians, the Charleston Bearcats (later the Savoy Bearcats), and the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, and sang for Luis Russell.
In 1934, Bradshaw formed his own swing orchestra, which recorded eight sides in two separate sessions for Decca Records. The band's next recording date was in 1944 for Manor Records, marking a shift towards rhythm and blues. Bradshaw's orchestra went on to record extensively for the rhythm and blues market with King Records between late 1949 and early 1955, yielding five hits on the Billboard R&B chart.
Although not a chart hit at the time, "The Train Kept A-Rollin'" (1951) has become Bradshaw's most enduring legacy, passing from rhythm and blues history into rock and roll folklore. This song, which he co-wrote and sang, has been covered by numerous artists, including Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and The Yardbirds, cementing its status as a rock and roll classic.
Tiny Bradshaw's contributions to the development of rhythm and blues and rock and roll are undeniable. His music paved the way for future generations of musicians, and his influence can still be felt today. Bradshaw's legacy serves as a testament to the power of innovation and creativity in shaping the course of musical history.
Despite his untimely passing on November 26, 1958, Tiny Bradshaw's music continues to inspire and entertain, ensuring his place as a pioneer in the world of rhythm and blues and rock and roll.
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