Saxophoniste US né le 11 Juillet 1926 à Austin (Texas). Joe Houston a débuté à la fin des années 1940, au Texas dans les orchestres d'Amos Milburn  puis de Joe Turner. Ce dernier le pousse à monter son propre groupe. Houston débute sa carrière solo en enregistrant pour le label texan Freedom Records.
Dans les années cinquante, il est à Los Angeles et travaille pour une multitude de labels : Bayou Records, Imperial Records, Mercury Records, Combo Records Dootone Records et surtout pour les marques des frères Bihari, RPM, Modern et Kent. Son jeu est celui d'un « ténor hurleur » mis en avant dans des morceaux pour la plupart instrumentaux.
Joe Houston est resté actif jusque dans la décennie 2000.

Joe Houston, a honking R&B saxman of wallpaper-peeling potency, recorded for virtually every major independent R&B label in Los Angeles during the 1950s. When the jump blues tradition faded, he segued right into rock & roll, even cutting budget Twist and surf albums for Crown that didn't sound very different from what he was doing a decade before. Houston played around Houston, Texas with the bands of Amos Milburn and Joe Turner during the late '40s. It was Turner who got the young saxist his first deal with Freedom Records in 1949. Houston found his way to the West Coast in 1952 and commenced recording for labels big and small: Modern, RPM, Lucky, Imperial, Dootone, Recorded in Hollywood, Cash, and Money (as well as the considerably better-financed Mercury, where he scored his only national R&B hit, "Worry, Worry, Worry," in 1952). Houston's formula was simple and savagely direct -- he'd honk and wail as hard as he could, from any conceivable position: on his knees, lying on his back, walking the bar, etc. His output for the Bihari brothers' Crown label (where he was billed as "Wild Man of the Tenor Sax") is positively exhilarating: "All Nite Long," "Blow Joe Blow," and "Joe's Gone" are herculean examples of single-minded sax blasting. Joe Houston remained active musically into the 2000s, emphasizing his blues Vocals talent more than previously, until suffering a stroke in 2005. He re-emerged and began playing again for a period of time thereafter, but then retreated from the public and to the company of family and friends.

Talents : Saxophone

Style musical : Jump Blues, Early Rhythm 'n' Blues, Rck 'n' Roll

Cornbread AND Cabbage Greens (1951)

ALL NIGHT LONG (1954)

Shtiggy Boom (1955)

ROCK THAT BOOGIE (1956)

CURFEW (1959)

Years in activity :

1910 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 2000 10

 

78 t., Singles & EP

1950 78 t. FREEDOM F-1526 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON'S ORCHESTRA - It's Really Wee Wee Hours / Way Cross Mama

1950 78 t. FREEDOM F-1535 (US) . Jumpin' The Blues (Joe HOUSTON & Orch., Vocals Julius STEWART) / Your Little Girl Is Gone (Joe HOUSTON TRIO)
1951 78 t. COMBO 6 (US) . Forest Fire / East Side
1951 SP COMBO 45-6 (US) . Forest Fire / East Side
1951 78 t. COMBO 8 (US) . Cross The Tracks / The Nipper
1951 SP COMBO 45-8 (US) . Cross The Tracks / The Nipper
1951 78 t. COMBO 16 (US) . Chili / Lucky 30
1951 SP COMBO 45-16 (US) . Chili / Lucky 30
1951 78 t. COMBO 18 (US) . Drunk / Lightnin'
1951 SP COMBO 45-18 (US) . Drunk / Lightnin'
1951 78 t. MACY'S 5014 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON & his Orchestra - Cornbread And Cabbage Greens / Pretty Dad-Dee

1951 78 t. MACY'S 5017 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & his Orchestra - Come Back Baby / Blow Joe Blow
1951 78 t. MODERN ‎830 (US) . Blow Joe Blow / ?
1951 SP MODERN ‎830X45 (US) . Blow Joe Blow / ?
1951 78 t. SPHINX 122 (US) .

Worry, Worry, Worry / Hard Time Baby

1951 78 t. MODERN ‎850 (US) . Have A Ball (Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA, Vocals Lois BUTLER) / Houston Hot House (Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA)
1951 SP MODERN ‎850X45 (US) . Have A Ball (Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA, Vocals Lois BUTLER) / Houston Hot House (Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA)
1951 78 t. MERCURY 8248 (US) .

Worry, Worry, Worry / Hard Time Baby

1952 78 t. MODERN ‎863 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & His Orchestra - Doin' The Lindy Hop / Sand Storm
1952 SP MODERN ‎863X45 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & His Orchestra - Doin' The Lindy Hop / Sand Storm
1952 78 t. IMPERIAL 5183 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON TRIO & ORCHESTRA - Ace Of Clubs / Jump The Blues

1952 SP IMPERIAL 45-5183 (US) . Joe HOUSTON TRIO & ORCHESTRA - Ace Of Clubs / Jump The Blues
1952 78 t. IMPERIAL 5196 (US) .

Hurricane / Bobby Sox Ramble

1952 SP IMPERIAL 45-5196 (US) . Hurricane / Bobby Sox Ramble
1952 78 t. MODERN ‎879 (US) . Dig It (Joe HOUSTON & His ORCHESTRA) / Boogie Woogie Woman (Joe HOUSTON & His ORCHESTRA, Vocals Louis BUTLER)
1952 SP MODERN ‎879X45 (US) . Dig It (Joe HOUSTON & His ORCHESTRA) / Boogie Woogie Woman (Joe HOUSTON & His ORCHESTRA, Vocals Louis BUTLER)
1952 78 t. COMBO 19 (US) . Vino / Mm
1952 SP COMBO 45-19 (US) . Vino / Mm
1952 78 t. IMPERIAL 5201 (US) .

Trouble Trouble Trouble / Earthquake

152 SP IMPERIAL 45-5201 (US) . Trouble Trouble Trouble / Earthquake
1953 78 t. MODERN ‎917 (US) . Blowin' Crazy / Going Crazy
1953 SP MODERN ‎917X45 (US) . Blowin' Crazy / Going Crazy
1953 78 t. IMPERIAL 5213 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON & His ORCH. - Atom Bomb / Windy City Hop

1953 SP IMPERIAL 45-5213 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & His ORCH. - Atom Bomb / Windy City Hop
1953 SP COMBO 45-45 (US) . East Side / Forest Fire
1953 SP COMBO 45-54 (US) . Ninya / Drag Race ‎
1953 78 t. RECORDED IN HOLLYWOOD 423 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON & ORCH. (The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON BLOWS) - Jay's Boogie / Corn Bread And Cabbage

1953 78 t. BAY'OU 4 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON & ORCHESTRA - Sabre-Jet / Moody

1953 SP BAY'OU 45-004 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & ORCHESTRA - Sabre-Jet / Moody
1953 78 t. BAY'OU 12 (US) . Chittin’ / Pigtails
1953 SP BAY'OU 45-012 (US) . Chittin’ / Pigtails
1953 78 t. BAY'OU 17 (US) . Landslide / Scramble
1953 SP BAY'OU 45-017 (US) . Landslide / Scramble
10/1954 78 t. MONEY 203 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA (The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON) - All Night Long / Way Out

10/1954 SP MONEY 203-45 (US) . Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA (The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON) - All Night Long / Way Out
1954 78 t. MONEY 207 (US) . Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA (The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON) - Way Out / All Night Long
1954 SP MONEY 207-45 (US) . Joe HOUSTON ORCHESTRA (The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON) - Way Out / All Night Long
1954 78 t. LUCKY 004 (US) .

The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON & His BAND - Joe Go Go / Go Joe Go

1954 SP LUCKY 45-004 (US) . The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON & His BAND - Joe Go Go / Go Joe Go
1954 SP CROWN 5X102 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & His Orchestra - Hum Bug / There Is No Greater Love
1954 SP CROWN 5X109 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & His Orchestra - Houston's Boogie / Dear Mom
1954 EP COMBO EP-3 (US)

JOE HOUSTON PLAYS... - Vino / M.M. / Lightning / Drunk

1955 78 t. RPM 422 (US) . "The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON" - Celebrity Club Stomp / Sentimental Journey
1955 SP RPM 45X422 (US) . "The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON" - Celebrity Club Stomp / Sentimental Journey
1955 78 t. RPM 426 (US) . "The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON" - Shtiggy Boom / Joe's Gone
1955 SP RPM 45X426 (US) . "The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON" - Shtiggy Boom / Joe's Gone
1955 78 t. RPM 427 (US) . "The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON" - Candy Rock / Riverside Rock
1955 SP RPM 45X427 (US) . "The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON" - Candy Rock / Riverside Rock
1955 SP IMPERIAL 45-5334 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & His ORCHESTRA - Tough Enough / Guided Missile
1955 SP CASH 1013 (US) .

The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON ORCH. - Flying Home / Walking Home

1955 SP CASH 1018 (US) . The Fabulous Joe HOUSTON ORCH. - Troubles And Worries / Rockin' 'n Boppin'
1956 SP COMBO 45-116 (US) . Rock That Boogie / Baby
1956 EP RPM EP-200 (US) The Fabulous Joe Houston - All Night Long / Celebrity Club Stomp / Blow Joe Blow / Way Out
1957 SP COMBO 45-130 (US) . Bean Hop / Chicano Hop
1957 SP COMBO 45-136 (US) . The Things We Used To Do / We're Gonna Rock 'n' Roll
07/1957 SP COMBO 45-138 (US) . Joe's Hot House / Rocking At The Drive-In
1957 ? SP SPOT 45-S104 (US) . Joe Houston & His Rockets - Off Beat / Goofin'
1957 ? SP SPOT 45-S105 (US) . Joe Houston & His Rockets - Rock That Boogie / No Name Rock
1957 ? SP SPOT 45-S106 (US) . Joe Houston & His Rockets - All Night Long / Corn Bread And Cabbage Greens
1957 ? SP SPOT 45-S107 (US) . Joe Houston & His Rockets - Joe's Rock / Tall Gal Blues
1957 2 EP TOPS 12-607 (US) Joe Houston & His Rockets - Rock And Roll Party :
DISC 1 : Rock That Boogie / No Name Rock / Movin´ And Groovin´ / Joe´s Rock / Tall Gal Blues
DISC 2 : Off Beat / Corn Bread And Cabbage Greens / Teenage Boogie / All Night Long / Goofin´
1957 EP TOPS / PHILIPS E-518 (AUS)

ROCK AND ROLL WITH JOE HOUSTON AND HIS ROCKETS - Off Beat / Goofin' / I Woke Up This Morning / Teen-Age Boogie

1958 SP COMBO 45-142 (US) .

Shuckin' 'n' A-Jivin' / Strolling

1958 SP COMBO 45-147 (US) . Get With It / Home Boy
1958 SP DOOTO 439 (US) .

Mighty Joe HOUSTON & His ORCHESTRA - Shindig / La Cucaracha Rock

1959 SP COMBO 45-155 (US) . Curfew / Cha Cha All Nite Long
1959 SP COMBO 45-157 (US) . The Hully / Ko Ko Mo
1960 SP COMBO 45-164 (US) . Slip'n Out / Hush Your Mouth
1961 SP COMBO 45-185 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & ORCHESTRA - Lightnin' / Drunk
1961 SP KEM 45-2761 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON & His FABULOUS TENOR - Lightnin' / Drunk

05/1961 SP KEM 45-2762 (US) . Joe HOUSTON & His FABULOUS TENOR - Slip-n-Out / Hush Your Mouth
1962 SP KENT 45X366 (US) .

Doing The Twist / White House Twist

1963 SP EMMO 3303 (US) . All Day Long / Midnight Blues
1964 SP Magnum ‎45-723 (US) .

Joe HOUSTON & His BAND - Hog Maws - Pt. 1 / Hog Maws - Pt. 2

1965 SP Magnum ‎45-729 (US) . Chicken Gravy (Part 1) / Chicken Gravy (Part 2)
19?? SP MODERN OLDIES 16 (US) .

All Night Long / Time Out

19?? SP MODERN OLDIES 37 (US) .

Blow Joe Blow / Earth Quake

1978 SP BIG TOWN 720 (US) .

Trippin' In / Hawaiian Disco
















Albums

1955 LP 12" COMBO LP-100 (US) Joe Houston - Drunk / Lightning / Cross The Track / The Nipper / East Side / Forest Fire / Vino / M.M. / 10 35 / Flyin' Tacos / Rock That Boogie / Baby
1956 LP 12" COMBO LP-400 (US) Rockin' At The Drive In - Rockin' At The Drive-In / Joe's Hot House / Chicano Hop / Bean Hop / Shuckin' 'n' Ajivin / Strolling / All Night Long / Luckey 39 / Chili / Drag Race / Ninya / We're Gonna Rock 'n' Roll
1956 LP 12" MODERN LMP 1206 (US) Blows All Night Long - All Nite Long / Celebrity Club Stomp / Candy Rock / Rockin' With Joe / Way Out / Crazy Sax / Blow Joe Blow / Sentimental Journey / Rock And Roll Boogie / Riverside Rock / Earth Quake / Joe's Gone
1957 LP 12" TOP L1518 (US)

ROCK AND ROLL WITH JOE HOUSTON AND HIS ROCKETS - Off Beat / Rock That Boogie / No Name Rock / Goofin' / Joe's Rock / Tall Gal Blues / All Night Long / Movin' And Groovin' / Corn Bread And Cabbage Greens / I Woke Up This Morning / Flying Home / Teen-Age Boogie

1957 LP 12" CROWN CLP-5006 (US) Rocks And Rolls All Nite Long - All Nite Long / Celebrity Club Stomp / Candy Rock / Rockin' With Joe / Way Out / Crazy Sax / Blow Joe Blow / Sentimental Journey / Rock and Roll Boogie / Riverside Rock / Earth Quake / Joe's Gone
1961 LP 12" CROWN CLP-5203 (US) WILD MAN OF THE TENOR SAX - Joggin' Around / Doing The Madison / Hands Down / Turn Around / Joe's Lament / Time For The Blues / Yesiree / Stompin With Joy / Doggin' It / Got the Blues After Hours
1962 LP 12" CROWN CLP- 5246 (mono) / CLP-246 (stereo) (US) DOIN' THE TWIST - Doing the Twist / Twisting The Twist / Crazy Twist / White House Twist / Chitlun's Twist / Rocking The Twist / Roy's Twist / Joe's Twist / Texas Twist / Casino Twist
1962 LP 12" CROWN CLP- 5252 (mono) / CLP-252 (stereo) (US) Twisting In Orbit - All Night Long Twist / Twistin' Time / Jumpin' Twist / Twistin' Shoes / Twisting In Orbit / Hangover Twist / Houston's Twist / Curtis Twist / Mexican Twist / La Paloma Twist
1962 LP 12" CROWN CLP-5273 (mono) / CST-273 (stereo) (US) Rockin And Rollin - Triple Jack Rock / Shake It Up / Coffee Time / Soft Shoe / Rattle Snake / Soul Blues / Funky Bug / Old Folks / Mashed Potato Rock / Pickets
1962 LP 12" CRAFTSMEN C 8033 (US)

ROCK 'N ROLL PARTY - RECORDED IN HOLLYWOOD  - JOE HOUSTON AND THE ROCKETS - Rock That Boogie / No Name Rock / Movin' & Groovin' / Off Beat / Tall Gal Blues / All Night Long / Goofin' / Joe's Rock / Corn Bread And Cabbage Greens / Teenage Boogie

1963 LP 12" CROWN CLP-5313 (mono) / CST-313 (stereo) (US) SURF ROCKIN' - Wipe Out / Gremmie / Night Lamp / Dig / Ho Dads / Haleiwa / Surf Rockin' / Maile/ Hooked / Pupukea
1963 LP 12" CROWN CLP-5319 (mono) / CST 319 (stereo) (US) LIMBO - Limbo World / Limbo Lou / Rockin' The Limbo / Out On A Limbo / La La Limbo / Everybody Limbo / Limbo Stick / Limbo Organ / Limbo And The Blues / Limbo Baby
1978 LP 12" Big Town ‎BT-1004 (US) Kicking Back - Hawaiian Disco / T-Bone Disco / Mr. Big "H" / Baby What You Want Me To Do / Trippin' In / Why Don't You Rock Me / Kicking Back - Part 1 / Kicking Back - Part 2
1985 LP 12" IMPERIAL 1561381 (F) Earthquake - Thunder Storm / Trouble, Trouble, Trouble / Hurricane / Tough Enough / Windy City Hop / Earthquake / Jump The Blues / Guided Missile / Good-Bye Little Girl / Wee, Wee Hours / Bobby Sox Ramble
10/1992 CD Specialty SPCD-2171-2 (US) Cornbread and Cabbage Greens - Cornbread And Cabbage Greens / Jay's Boogie / Blues After Hours / Sentimental Journey // Celebrity Club Drag / Gordon's Knot / All Night Long / Ruth's Rock / Flying Home / Walkin' Home / Lester Leaps In / I Cover The Waterfront / Troubles And Worries / Huggy Boy Radio Ad / Rockin' And Boppin' / Flying Home / She's Gone / Anything / Ritchie's Roll / Thom's Tune / Teen-Age Hop / Well, Well My Love / Mambo / Shake It Up / Coastin / Midnight
10/2000 CD ACE CDCHD 772 (UK) Blows Crazy! - All Night Long / Blow Joe Blow / Houston's Hot House / Have A Ball / Doin' The Lindy Hop / Dig It / Boogie Woogie Woman / Blowin' Crazy / Goin' Crazy / Celebrity Club Stomp / Sentimental Journey / Shitiggy Boom / Joe's Gone / Riverside Rock / Joe's Gone / Yessiree / Blowin' Crazy / Turn Around / Stompin' With Joy / Crazy Twist / Chitlun's Twist / Roy's Twist / Celebrity Club Stomp / Limbo And The Blues
02/2000 CD JSP JSPCD 2137 (UK) The Return of Honk! - Joe HOUSTON & Otis GRAND - The Return Of Honk / Camilla's Hop / Mama Don't / Fruit Boots / Big Legged Woman / They Killed Crazy Horse / Castle Rock / Why Oh Why / Blues For T-Bone / Down, But Not Out
03/2001 CD Southland SCD-16 (US) Rockin' 'n' Boppin' - THE FABULOUS JOE HOUSTON - Rockin' n' Boppin' / Flying Home / Walking Home / Earthquake / Waycross Mama Blues / Moody / Hurricane / Go, Joe, Go / Cornbread And Cabbage / Jay's Boogie / Doin' The Lindy Hop / Boogie Woogie Woman / Hog Maws, Pt. 2 / Dig It / Rock That Boogie / Joe's Gone / The Hully / All Night Long / Off Beat / Goofin' / Joe's Rock / Tall Gal Blues
03/2004 CD ACE CDCHD 994 (UK) Rockin' at the Drive-In - Chicano Hop / Joe's Hot House / Rockin' At The Drive-In / Bean Hop / Shuckin' 'n' A-Jivin' / Houston Shuffle / Strollin' / All Night Long / Lucky 30 / Chili / Drag Race / Baby Don't Go / We're Gonna Rock & Roll

© Rocky Productions 6/09/2014