{"id":17372,"date":"2021-02-01T00:11:08","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T08:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegotroubadour.com\/?p=17372"},"modified":"2021-01-30T14:22:23","modified_gmt":"2021-01-30T22:22:23","slug":"band-of-brothers-the-liggins-brothers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegotroubadour.com\/band-of-brothers-the-liggins-brothers\/","title":{"rendered":"Band of Brothers: The Liggins Brothers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Joe Liggins (far right) and the Honeydrippers, ca. 1945.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Joe Liggins<\/p><\/div>\n

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Jimmy Liggins<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Although they were both born in Oklahoma (Joe in Guthrie on July 9, 1915, and Jimmy in Newby on October 14, 1922), band leaders Joe and Jimmy Liggins relocated to San Diego as youths. Revered by lovers of jump blues, swing, and R&B, they soon began their musical apprenticeship in the local clubs of 1930s. As all brothers do, they had a friendly rivalry, which led to an incredible series of hits during the early fifties.<\/p>\n

As teenagers and still at Hoover High School, they played the local night spots, with Joe eventually joining the house band at the Creole Palace circa 1934. By all accounts this band was at the forefront of San Diego\u2019s first musical renaissance and, at one time or another, included such soon to be legends as Fro Brigham, Harold Land, and Little Willie Jackson just to name a few. The Palace itself was located in the Hotel Douglas at the corner of Market Street and Third Avenue and, in the name of progress, the building was demolished in 1985.<\/p>\n

After years of playing the local circuit as well as dates up and down the coast, Joe eventually headed to the greener pastures of Los Angeles in 1939, gigging with a variety of groups, notably Sammy Franklin\u2019s California Rhythm Rascals. No, really. Matter of fact it was that group\u2019s decision to pass on one of Joe\u2019s tracks\u2014his soon-to-be debut smash, \u201cThe Honeydripper Parts 1 and 2,\u201d which enabled Joe to go off and start up his own outfit.<\/p>\n

In 1944 he signed up with indie Exclusive Records and never looked back. His sound was a smash from the get-go, starting with the afore-mentioned track (Exclusive 207). It was an instant R&B number one (for 18 weeks!!) as well as the biggest R&B record in 1945. But perhaps most important, \u201cThe Honeydripper\u201d has been cited by many as one the earliest examples of what was pointing toward what we\u2019ve come to know as rock \u2018n\u2019 roll.<\/p>\n

Here’s a taste:
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