John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

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John Peel Wiki
Clarence Lofton

Clarence Lofton (March 28, 1887, 1896 or 1897 – January 9, 1957), credited as Cripple Clarence Lofton, was an American boogie-woogie pianist and singer born in Tennessee.

Lofton was born with a limp, from which he derived his stage name, but he started his career as a tap dancer. He then began performing in the blues idiom known as boogie-woogie and went on to perform in Chicago, Illinois. The distinctive feature of his performances was his energetic stage presence; he would dance and whistle as well as sing...With his distinctive performance style, Lofton became a mainstay in his genre. His first recording was made in April 1935 for Vocalion Records with guitar accompaniment by Big Bill Broonzy. Lofton also accompanied Red Nelson on several sides for Decca Records in 1935 and 1936. He later went on to own the Big Apple nightclub in Chicago and continued to record into the late 1940s, when he retired. (Read more at Wikipedia)

Links to Peel[]

Cripple_Clarence_Lofton_(Streamline_Train)_Piano_Blues_Legend

Cripple Clarence Lofton (Streamline Train) Piano Blues Legend

Peel seemed to have a liking for Chicago blues of the 1930s, even if many collectors preferred the "pure" country blues of the rural southern states. His debut broadcast on Kat's Karavan in 1961 included vintage tracks by artists based in Chicago, and he also developed a taste for boogie-woogie piano, of which Cripple Clarence Lofton was a leading exponent, albeit in a more basic, bluesier style than JP's later favourite Camille Howard.

The DJ's preferred Lofton track (judging by available playlists), was "I Don't Know", which received a number of plays over the years and was eventually included in the Peelenium 1939. Peel may have discovered it on a Yazoo Records LP of 1970, which had one side of tracks by Lofton and one of recordings by another blues pianist of the era, Walter Davis.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

None.

Sessions[]

None.

Shows Played[]

1960s
1980s
1990s
2000s

External Links[]