Charles Brown

March 15th, the 14th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are announced.

They include Billy Joel, Curtis Mayfield, Paul McCartney, Del Shannon, Dusty Springfield, Bruce Springsteen, the Staple Singers, Charles Brown, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, and George Martin.

Any standouts for you, Sam?

Nothing I'm super close with.

And now if we can switch gears again, you've got a great story about some post-war rhythm and blues guys that's a whole different angle on these guys than anything I'd come across before.

I knew that Charles Brown was gay, but I didn't realize Amos Milburn was gay, and I certainly didn't realize that they were as close as they were.

Tell us about Amos Mil- Milburn, who's best known for One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer, and Charles Brown, who's legendary for Merry Christmas Baby and Drifting Blues, among many others.

But Charles Brown, for years before Thriller, had the best-selling record by an African American in history with Merry Christmas Baby.

Tell us-

Oh, yeah

First time he ever heard triplets was on an Amos Milburn song, and he s- he admitted that he tried to sing like Amos Milburn, and he even, he even hump- hunched over his piano with a big grin like Amos Milburn.

And I think, how did you never hear, hear of Amos Milburn when basically Fats Domino, uh, got everything? Not everything, but he got a lot from Amos Milburn.

He was a favorite of the judge on that show, so he would pop in and do a couple cameo appearances.

Charles Brown was born in 1922, very influential blues singer and pianist who did the songs Drifting Blues and Merry Christmas Baby, and also did one of my all-time favorite Christmas albums, A Charles Brown Christmas, which is all blues music, and it is awesome.

Louis Steinberg was born in 1933, original bass player for the iconic soul and instrumental group Booker T. & the M.G.'s, had hits like Green Onions.

Gene Page was born in 1939, famous arranger, conductor, and producer who helped to shape the orchestral sounds for hits for Barry White, Love Unlimited, and also Motown.

I

endorse this guy I'll tell you that no it's great it's great because you're pointing out some very important stuff other than say maybe like Charles Brown or exactly right

obviously and Ray and I mean come

on