Cohen Pays Tribute to Bobby 'Blue' Bland on the Floor of the House of Representatives

[WASHINGTON, DC] -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today paid tribute to the late blues and R&B icon Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Bland passed away over the weekend at the age of 83. Video of the tribute is available here.

The Congressman’s remarks are available below.

“Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, a Memphis and American music and blues idol passed away on Sunday at the age of 83.

Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland was born Robert Calvin Brooks in 1930, and in the 40’s he moved to Memphis. In 1949 he joined a group called the ‘Beale Streeters,’ which was a loose-knit collective whose members at various points included Johnny Ace, Rosco Gordon, Earl Forest, and B.B. King.

He later worked for Junior Parker and B.B. King—both giants in their own right—and then he went on his own way and became one of the great blues singers of all time. His four top singles were Turn on Your Love Light, Call on Me, That’s the Way Love Is, and Ain’t Nothing You Can Do.

He had top 100 hits almost every year for 40 years. His songs were covered by the Grateful Dead, The Band and Van Morrison, and his work influenced Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and the Allman Brothers.

Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and, five years later, in 1997 he received the Lifetime Achievement Grammy.

Last year, he was inducted into the first class of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame as the ‘Lion of the Blues.’ This inaugural class is the crème de la crème of Memphis Music—and the world. It includes Howlin’ Wolf, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Otis Redding, W.T. Handy, B.B. King, Al Green and Isaac Hayes, just to name a few.

He served his country in the Army from 1952 to 1954. He is survived by his wife Willie Mae, his son Rodd, his daughter Patrice, four grandchildren and millions of records and CDs that people will be loving forever.”

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