T.J. Fowler And His Band - Early Detroit R&B (1989) Official - LP Only Release - Rare R&B (MP3) HQ

This great album is from Denmarks Official imprint,though the tracks were recorded on the savoy & States labels in the late 1950,s. T.J. was Born in 1910, Columbus, Georgia and passed in May 1982, Lincoln Park, Michigan. T J Fowler might well lay claim to being one of the town's sendingest boogie beat pianists. Of course Bob (Count Basie) White might also lay claim to that title.Wade Boykin might wonder where he stands too.all three are boogie specialists so take your choice. T.J. Fowler was named with just initials, like his three brothers, E.J., K.C. and F.C. The whole Fowler family moved north to River Rouge, Michigan, when T.J. was only six years old, and he grew up in and around the Detroit area, taking piano lessons as a teenager, and finishing his education at the Detroit Conservatory of Music, where he learned to arrange and compose. T.J.'s father owned a poolroom and a dance hall, and the young pianist began playing at weekends for the dancers. He remained playing there until he was around 24 years old and was confident to strike out when he was asked to join the band led by alto saxophonist Guy Walters. He left Walters around 1944 to play with another local band led by veteran trumpeter Clarence Dorsey, alongside another future R&B band leader, saxophonist Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams, until Fowler left the Dorsey band to form his own jump unit in 1947. Paul Williams, in fact, used the Fowler band on his first sessions for Savoy in September and October 1947, before forming his own group, and it is the Fowler band that is present behind Williams on the latter's debut Billboard R&B chart hit 35-30 (#8 1948). Savoy took the opportunity to record a boogie instrumental by Fowler at the first Williams session, but it remains unissued.T J Fowler continuing to play with small jazz trios and quartets through the 1960s, quietly retired from music to run his other business concerns, including a landscaping company, and died in his adopted home of Detroit, on 22nd May 1982.He didnt release any albums and to my knowledge only 2 Compilations(inc this one) exist of his recordings..super stuff from a bygone era!

AMM & Dave Penny 

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