From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue Jul 30, 2002  8:42 pm
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Roy Milton

ROY MILTON (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born 31 July 1907, Wynnewood, Oklahoma
Died 18 September, 1983, Los Angeles, California

Vocalist / drummer / bandleader. Grandfather of rhythm & blues.

Roy Milton was one of the few who actually defined the rhythm & blues
immediately after WWII, stripping down Big Bands to small combos,
founded mainly on horns and piano.
He was born in 1907 in Oklahoma, and moved to Tulsa at a young age.
It was there that he was exposed to blues and vaudeville. He joined the
Ernie Fields Orchestra in 1928 as a vocalist and drummer. Depression
hit and by 1933, Roy left and moved to the West Coast, forming his own
combo (The Solid Senders) and touring the clubs. He even appeared in
some movies. His first recording break came only after WWII, in 1945,
with a single for Lionel Hampton's Hamp-Tone label, that didn't go far.
Towards the end of 1945, he signed with Art Rupe's newly formed Juke-Box
label (soon to become Specialty) and his first release was the smash hit
"R.M. Blues" (# 2 R&B). This led the path for ten years of successful
recording for Specialty Records, raking 19 national R&B hits, along with
featured Solid Senders' pianist Camille Howard.
By 1956, R&B was getting passé, the hit well was getting dry for Roy.
He continued to record for Dootoo, King and Warwick, with little success.
During the 70s and 80s, he still toured solo, made appearances at the
Monterey Jazz Festival and in Europe.
In 1982 he became ill and was confined to his home in L.A., where he
paseed away in September 1983.

Recommended listening:
"Roy Milton & His Solid Senders" ACE CDCHD 308
"Vol 2: Groovy Blues" ACE CDCHD 435
"Vol 3: Blowin' With Roy" ACE CDCHD 575