TBA party at the Cantab Lounge

For many years The Cantab was the home of Little Joe Cook “The Peanut Man” so called because he wrote a famous tune called “Peanuts” which has been recorded by many famous people over the years. My friend Mike Michaels has been a big fan of Joe’s and has been working on recording Joe’s “roots,” Gospel. Mike has worked tirelessly on putting together 3 tunes for Joe, through thick and thin, failing health and all the complications that come with old age.

Joe is 86. Here is the lowdown:

LITTLE JOE COOK – A Blast From The Past- The 1957 Doo Wop Diddy entitled “Peanuts” broke into Billboard’s top 20. It was written and recorded by a young Philadelphian named Little Joe Cook. Now in 2009 and Little Joe is still recording at the age of 86. “We are currently producing 3 Gospel songs that Little Joe originally composed and recorded on 78s back in the 1940s with his Capital Gospel group The Evening Star Quartet. Mike Micheals told me. “His voice is strong and more soulful than ever.” This project has taken nearly 2 years to complete due to the usual maladies that come with advancing age. But nothing can deter Little Joe from doing what he does best, singing a song. We hope you will look and listen for “The Tide of Life,” “I’m a Witness,” How Far Is Heaven” to be released on Beantown International Records 128 Cherry St., Framingham, MA 01701.

If you check out BB King’s tome The King’s Treasures then you will see the copy of the chitlins circuit poster promoting BB with Doc Bagsby, et al. Little Joe was on that bill many times, along side Bobby Blue Bland and Junior Parker. Little Joe’s Blues roots go even further back to when his mother, Annie Bell, was a Capital Blues singer on a circuit with Big Maybell and Bessie Smith.This picture below is one of the monuments that have been erected for this great artist, the other is “Little Joe Cook Square” out front of the Cantab. Dedicated by the Mayor, Little Joe was heard happily commenting that he got to see the dedication, unlike other honorees.

Mike talks to his old friend Candido “Candy” Delgado who plays at the Cantab every Friday night. He has been there for 34 years. He played with Little Joe Cook and has toured with the Drifters and was the backing band for Solomon Burke whenever he came to Boston. He asked Diane Blue to join the Fatback band as a singer, 2 and a half years ago.”I was looking for a singer, she came to the jam and I liked her style.” The twin brother the Crouper brothers are about to do a few nights with Denny Lane, a Moody Blues member, on his tour in August. They are exchanging video tapes as a rehersal tool, Denny lives in England. They have worked with him a number of times. One brother sings and plays bass the other plays drums. This Fatback band is a classic R&B and R&R band, definitely not Blues. They are a club dance band and they can keep the dance floor full all night. It was standing room only by 11:30. Everybody was having a great time.Diane did do one Blues song “Muddy Water” and played harp. She is a wonderful entertainer and was very helpful in explaining to her “peeps” what I was doing there.

Below is a shot of the downstairs at the Cantab, where another band altogether plays called “Club Bohemia” punk, roack etc. bands play there. The last time I was downstairs at the Cantab JB Hutto was standing on one of these tables playing wild slide and having a great time. FLASH from the past!

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