Tony Glover

David Curtis Glover (October 7, 1939 – May 29, 2019), better known as Tony "Little Sun" Glover, was an American blues musician and music critic.[1] He was a harmonica player and singer who was most notably associated with "Spider" John Koerner and Dave "Snaker" Ray in the early 1960s folk revival. Together, the three released albums under the name Koerner, Ray & Glover. Glover was also the author of diverse "harp" (blues harmonica) songbooks and a co-author, along with Ward Gaines and Scott Dirks, of an award-winning biography of Little Walter, Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story.

For the NASCAR crew chief, see Tony Glover (NASCAR).
Tony Glover
Glover in 1982
Background information
Birth nameDavid Curtis Glover
Also known asLittle Sun
Born(1939-10-07)October 7, 1939
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 2019(2019-05-29) (aged 79)
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Musician, author
InstrumentsHarmonica, vocals, guitar
Years active1963–2019
LabelsElektra
Red House
Associated actsKoerner, Ray & Glover, Dave "Snaker" Ray, John Koerner

Biography

Glover was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1939. As a teenager he performed in various local bands, playing guitar before taking up the blues harp. In 1963 he joined John Koerner and Dave Ray to form the blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover. From 1963 to 1971, either solo or in some combination of the trio, they released at least one album a year.[2] The group never rehearsed together or did much at all together. Ray referred to the group as "Koerner and/or Ray and/or Glover".[3]

In the late sixties, Glover was an all-night underground disc jockey on KDWB-AM in Minneapolis before forming the band Nine Below Zero. He also often performed as a duo with Ray and with Koerner, Ray & Glover reunion concerts.[3] In 2007, he produced a documentary video on the trio, titled Blues, Rags and Hollers: The Koerner, Ray & Glover Story.

Glover was the author of several blues harp songbooks and a co-author, along with Ward Gaines and Scott Dirks, of an award-winning biography of Little Walter, Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story, published in 2002.[4]

Glover was a prolific rock critic, having written articles for the Little Sandy Review (1962–1963), Sing Out! (1964–1965), Hullabaloo/Circus (1968–1971), Hit Parader (1968), Crawdaddy (1968), Eye (1968), Rolling Stone (1968–1973), Junior Scholastic (1970), Creem (1974–1976), Request (1990–1999), Twin Cities Blues News (1996-2006), MNBlues.com (1999–present) and the Twin Cities Reader and City Pages. He also wrote liner notes for albums by John Hammond, Sonny Terry, John Lee Hooker, Michael Lessac, Sonny & Brownie, Willie & the Bees and the Jayhawks and for The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert.

Glover taught harmonica to David Johansen and Mick Jagger.[5]

Death

Glover died on May 29, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota at the age of 79.[6][7]

Awards and honors
Koerner, Ray & Glover's star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue

In 1983 the Minnesota Music Academy named Koerner, Ray and Glover "Best Folk Group" and in 1985 inducted them into the MMA Hall of Fame.[8]

In 2008, Koerner, Ray & Glover were inducted into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame under the category Blues Recordings for Blues, Rags and Hollers.[9]

Koerner, Ray & Glover has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,[10] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.[11] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.[12]

Discography

References
  1. DeRogatis, Jim (2003). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 196. ISBN 1617802158. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  2. "Illustrated Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  3. Blues, Rags and Hollers: The Koerner, Ray & Glover Story. 1995. Latch Lake (Video documentary)
  4. "Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story, 1st Edition (Paperback) - Routledge". Routledge.com. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  5. "Spider John Koerner & Tony Glover Perform at the Red House Live Series at the Landmark Center". Kfai.org. November 15, 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. Sandomir, Richard (June 5, 2019). "Tony Glover, Master of the Blues Harmonica, Is Dead at 79". Nytimes.com.
  7. "Minnesota blues hero Tony Glover, an influence on Dylan and the Stones, dies at 79". Star Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  8. "Tony Glover official web site". Mwt.net. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  9. "Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame 2008". Gtcbms.org. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  10. "The Stars". First Avenue & 7th Street Entry. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  11. Bream, Jon (2019-05-03). "10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show". Star Tribune. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  12. Marsh, Steve (2019-05-13). "First Avenue's Star Wall". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
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