Chickens Only

"Is You Is?" New Drawings by Blake Haygood, currently on view in the Telephone Room Gallery, borrows its title from the song "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?" by Louis Jordan (1908-1975). The show isn't about the song, but this post is about Louis Jordan.

Louis Jordan began performing with bands in the early 1930s, and by the time of his death in 1975, he had made a lasting impact upon American music. Described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as both "The Father of Rythym and Blues" and "The Grandfather of Rock and Roll." The "Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness" James Brown once said of Jordan, "He could sing, he could dance, he could play, he could act. He could do it all."

Sing, dance, play, act... That brings to mind another group of multi-talented performers. Here, performing one of Louis Jordan's classic numbers, "There Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"...



"Is You Is?" New Drawings by Blake Haygood is on view from November 4 - 30, 2009 in the Telephone Room Gallery. Viewable by appointment almost anytime -- email us at thetelephoneroom@gmail.com.