The recent death of Bo Diddley is a big loss, but it makes us aware of the fact that we are all temporary. Guys like them do not leave without giving us a great musical legacy, and that's what this serie is all about isn't it. Nappy Brown, another great R&B artist has been hospitalized in Newton, New Jersey, following a performance at the Crawfish Festival in Augusta, New Jersey, this past Sunday, June 1. He's already 79, so shit happens. Let's hope he'll get better soon. It's all about him today, the guy who's responsable for one of the biggest R&B hits of all times: The Night Time Is The Right Time.

Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp a.k.a. Nappy Brown (born in 1929) recorded the song for Savoy Records where he started his career. Many of these recordings can be found on the album ‘Don’t Be Angry’ (Savoy Jazz, 1990). ‘Don’t Be Angry’ was a big hit in 1955, earning enough attention for the decidedly non-bluesy Crewcuts to record it later. Patti Page also blunted the popularity of his R&B hit ‘Piddly Patter Patter’. In a racist era with guys like Pat Boone ruling the white pop charts, even such well known black performers as Little Richard and Chuck Berry were often screwed out of much bigger success, let alone a less known singer such as Nappy. The tracks collected on ‘Don’t Be Angry’ are enough to make any rational R&B- or Blues fan believe Nappy Brown was another victim of the late 1950’s music industry racism. Listen for instance to the raucous title-track, the solemn ‘I Wonder’ or the ominous ‘Land I Love’. ‘The Night Time Is The Right Time’ is a true classic and will undoubtedly outlast the creator/singer. It’s just too bad he never got proper reimbursement for his work, either in terms of fame or money. Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Creedence Clearwater Revival made very nice covers of the song, but none of them talked alot about “Lemon Squeezin’ Daddy” Nappy Brown. Nappy himself made a come-back in the 80’s, helped by Tinsley Ellis and his band The Heartfixers, resulting in the album ‘Tore Up’. Thát one, and ‘Don’t Be Angry’ belongs in the collection of every serious R&B/Blues fan. You can tell everybody Papa said so. See ya!

Websites: Alligator and Blind Pig

Don't Be Angry - Savoy Jazz 1990
Tore Up - Alligator 1984

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