Sign-In
Cart
Slim Harpo: King Bee of the Swamp Blues
Paperback
Series: The Roots of the Blues, Book 1
Publisher: Simon Godfrey
Published: Aug 7 2026
Pages: 152
Weight: 0.40
Height: 0.35 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Slim Harpo: King Bee of the Swamp Blues tells the remarkable story of James Isaac Moore, the Louisiana singer, harmonica player and songwriter who helped define swamp blues and left a lasting mark on rock and popular music. Drawing on his Baton Rouge roots, his rise through the local club scene, and his crucial partnership with producer Jay Miller, Simon Godfrey traces how Harpo developed a sound that was sly, relaxed and unmistakably his own. From the breakthrough of I'm a King Bee to the crossover success of Baby Scratch My Back, this is the story of a musician who found commercial success without ever losing his regional identity. The book also follows Harpo's working life, his touring years, and the surprising reach of his songs, which were embraced by British Invasion bands and rediscovered by later generations. Written with warmth and wit, it offers blues fans a lively, accessible portrait of an artist whose recordings continue to buzz through music history.
Also from
Godfrey, Simon
New Delhi 1930: Power, Personalities and Architecture in the Twilight of the British Raj
Godfrey, Simon
Paperback
Wheezing Disorders in the Pre-School Child: Pathogenesis and Management
Martinez, Fernando D.
Godfrey, Simon
Hardcover
Also in
Blues & Soul
It's No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown's Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy
Christian, Margena A.
Hardcover
One Step Away: My Story of the Andantes, Motown, and the Women Behind the Sound of Young America
Demps, Louvain
Milliken, Paul
Hardcover
The Music Lover's Guide to North America: Museums, Historical Sites, and Other Points of Interest
Jones, Craig
Matyas, Josephine
Paperback
R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country: Portraits of the Pioneers Who Shaped American Music [With CD Audio]
Crumb, R.
Hardcover
Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday
Davis, Angela Y.
Paperback
The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic
de Visé, Daniel
Paperback
Picturing Prince: An Intimate Portrait: A Intimate Portrait Featuring Unseen Photography
Parke, Steve
Hardcover
Dancing with Muddy: Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, and My Lucky Life in and Out of the Blues
Portnoy, Jerry
Paperback
101 Blues Riffs &Solos in Open D Guitar Tuning: Essential Lessons for Open D (DADF#AD) Guitar Tuning
Robitaille, Brent
Paperback
Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis
Lauterbach, Preston
Paperback
Do Not Sell at Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78 RPM Records
Petrusich, Amanda
Paperback
Liner Notes for the Revolution: The Intellectual Life of Black Feminist Sound
Brooks, Daphne A.
Paperback
Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You?: A Memoir
Clinton, George
Paperback
Delta Blues: The Life and Times of the Mississippi Masters Who Revolutionized American Music
Gioia, Ted
Paperback
The Rap Year Book: The Most Important Rap Song from Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed
Serrano, Shea
Paperback
The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic
de Visé, Daniel
Hardcover
Make My Funk the P-Funk: Parliament-Funkadelic's Meteoric Rise in 1975 from Chocolate City to Mothership Connection
Bedrosian, Daniel
Hardcover
Inside the Moment: Iconic Blues, Soul, Jazz, Rock, and R&B Images and History
Rosen, Joseph A.
Hardcover
The Complete 4-String Cigar Box Guitar Chord Book: 4-String Cigar Box Guitar Chords in GDGB Tuning
Robitaille, Brent C.
Paperback
The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups
Roberts, Amani
Hardcover
The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: The Illustrated Story of Sun Records and the 70 Recordings That Changed the World
Escott, Colin
Guralnick, Peter
Hardcover
Gary Moore's Guitar Style: The Authorised Guide to the Soloing Techniques of Guitar Legend Gary Moore
Alexander, Joseph
Daisley, Bob
Garland, Rob
Paperback
The Ballad of Blind Willie Johnson: Race, Redemption, and the Soul of an American Artist
Ford, Shane
Hardcover
Mississippi Juke Joint Confidential: House Parties, Hustlers & the Blues Life
Stolle, Roger
Paperback
King of the Delta Blues: The Life and Music of Charlie Patton
Komara, Edward
Wardlow, Gayle Dean
Calt, Stephen
Paperback
La guía completa para tocar guitarra de blues Libro 1: Guitarra rítmica
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
Party Music: The Inside Story of the Black Panthers' Band and How Black Power Transformed Soul Music
Vincent, Rickey
Paperback
But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the '60s Girl Groups
Liebowitz, Emily Sieu
Flam, Laura
Hardcover
A Little Bit of Bowie: An Unofficial Celebration of the Most Influential Musician of All Time
Summersdale Publishers
Hardcover
100 Funk Grooves for Electric Bass: Learn 100 Bass Guitar Riffs & Licks in the Style of the Funk Legends
Alexander, Joseph
Hawkins, Dan
Paperback
100 Slide Licks For Blues Guitar: Master 100 Slide Guitar Licks in the Style of the World's 20 Greatest Blues Players
Alexander, Joseph
Clay, Levi
Paperback
Advanced Blues Guitar Soloing: Move Beyond Pentatonics to Solo with Advanced Scales, Arpeggios & Substitutions
Baxter, Shaun
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances: A Life in Mod - From the Revival to Acid Jazz
Piller, Eddie
Paperback
Songbook Chromatic Harmonica - traditional Blues Songs: + Sounds Online
Schipp, Bettina
Boegl, Reynhard
Paperback
Come and Get These Memories: The Genius of Holland-Dozier-Holland, Motown's Incomparable Songwriters
Holland, Eddie
Holland, Brian
Paperback
The World Don't Owe Me Nothing: The Life and Times of Delta Bluesman Honeyboy Edwards
Edwards, David Honeyboy
Paperback
101 Riffs and Solos for 4-String Cigar Box Guitar: Essential Lessons for 4-String Slide Cigar Box Guitar
Robitaille, Brent C.
Paperback
I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the March Up Freedom's Highway
Kot, Greg
Paperback
The Hippest Trip in America: Soul Train and the Evolution of Culture & Style
George, Nelson
Paperback
Behind The Curtains: with The VOLCANOS Storm Warning And The Grammy Award Winning TRAMMPS Disco Inferno
Kelly, Stephen C.
Paperback
Blues Tab Guitar: Guitar tab basic techniques, Blues Scales, Blues Exercices (Several levels)
Master, Bluemsc
Paperback
Blues For Dummies [With Contains Over an Hour of Blues Classics...]
Brooks, Lonnie
Baker Brooks, Wayne
Koda, Cub
Paperback
The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups
Roberts, Amani
Paperback
The Soul Rhythm Guitar Book: Discover Authentic Soul Guitar Chords, Rhythms, Licks and Fills
Alexander, Joseph
Ryan, Stuart
Paperback
100 Essential Funk Grooves for Guitar: Master the Styles of the Funk Guitar Legends - From Jimmy Nolen to Cory Wong
Allworth, Steve
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
300 Blues, Rock and Jazz Licks for Guitar: Learn 300 Classic Guitar Licks In The Style Of The World's 60 Greatest Players
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
Robben Ford: Blues Guitar Phrasing Masterclass: Create Expressive Blues Guitar Solos with Powerful Phrasing, Articulation & Dynamics
Alexander, Joseph
Ford, Robben
Pettingale, Tim
Paperback
The Ultimate Book of Blues Guitar Legends: The Players and Guitars That Shaped the Music
Prown, Pete
Hardcover