the-speiginer-family.com

Our family's history, one memory at a time…

The Louis S. Speiginer contribution to American Music

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- The band - Louis Speiginer & the Blue Notes


The Band’s known popular recordings include:


Cain River Blues (v. Jimmy Witherspoon)

How I Hate To See Christmas Come Around (v. Jimmy Witherspoon)

Louie's Guitar Boogie

10/18/1947. Los Angeles, CA



10/18/1947. Los Angeles, CA




11/20/1947. Los Angeles, CA

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Pictured: (left) sitting - Julius B. Speiginer w/Clarinet and his 1928 Bacon Day B&D Montana Special Silver Bell No 1 Banjo to his left. Standing: Louis S. Speiginer - Band Leader and Guitarist

- Various Blues (Boogie) bands that Louis S. Speiginer recorded with:

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Uncle shared with me that he preferred the "Kansas City" style of Playing the Blues but that he needed to go west where the better jobs/opportunities were abundant and his brother “Buck” was living. Once he aligned with a trumpeter/vocalist from the Tulsa, Oklahoma named Vernon "Geechie" Smith, the move to the west coast was on. It is reported that once "Geechie" Smith moved to California, "he took many of his colleagues with him, namely guitarists Lucky Enois and Louis Speiginer, tenor Freddie Simon, pianist Fletcher Smith and drummer Jesse Price"



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Although many Guitars were owned by Uncle over the years, he often talked to me about his first Gibson and the Gibson he had mid 1960- his passing. The picture is close to the first Gibson that he had.


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This next Gibson (L5-CES) is the same model and look as Uncle's guitar when he passed. This Guitar remains with the Speiginer Family/is proudly owned by Sjorgn S. Speiginer.


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The 1958 Gibson Double 12 dual neck Guitar. We were all at Uncles house in Pomona and the request came to play the dual neck guitar. This was played by dad & uncle (dad sitting on a chair playing the lower neck and Uncle standing in back of him playing the upper neck).

There was a switch near the bridge plate that originally provided the option of switching the electronics to either neck. The electronics were two volume and two tone controls and a pickup selector switch that controlled the pickups on either neck. Uncle had modified the guitar so that it would play with two different amps at the same time (one for each neck).

It was a very rich sound and Uncle had to slow down and wait for dad to play the base.. (Dad was very rusty and not as talented as Uncle). Aunt Gertha's water broke about an hour after they played and the back seat of the Nash was removed to carry her out of the house. On the very same day Dauphne was born.


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The Banjo that Dad played and owned since 1932 was the 1928 Bacon & Day Silver Bell. It looks very close to these photos.

These pictures represent the same model and look as Dad's Banjo. Dad's Banjo remains with the Speiginer Family and is proudly owned by myself (Gary Speiginer).
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Here is a compendium of some of the many albums with Uncle's name as Guitarist. This listing is not complete and only represents the major artists where Louis S. Speiginer was guitarist.

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Louis Speiginer CD discography Blue Moon.
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Louis Speiginer albums early trio years from 1949 thru 1953.
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Louis Speiginer songs
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Recorded in Los Angeles, California from 1947 to 1949: Louis Speiginer, Tiny Webb (guitar).
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Louis Speiginer CD discography BLUES + JAZZ features 40 tracks recorded between 1950 and 1959.
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Louis Speiginer CD discography Recording information: Los Angeles, CA (04/26/1947-05/25/1949).
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Louis Speiginer albums Includes liner notes by Jean Buzelin.
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Louis Speiginer discography Recorded between 1941 and 1949.
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Louis Speiginer (guitar); Los Angeles, CA (1945-1949); Pasadena (1945-1949)
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Louis Speiginer music CDs Jazz legend Ray Charles
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Louis Speiginer songs Buddy Tate
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Here is a list of credits in Uncle's name as Guitarist.
Listing shows major artists where Louis S. Speiginer was guitarist. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/louis-speiginer-mn0000073901/credits

There is a source that may have lower prices than most. Please go to this website to find some of Uncle's music: http://www.amoeba.com/louis-speiginer/artist/434313

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2016 Update - There is an ITUNES release of "Louis Guitar Boogie" called "Louis' Guitar Blues (Jumping' With Louis)" found as track five (5) in the Buddy McShann CD called "Mr Boogie".



Many family members have asked me about the band name and that it is so hard to find in any search. Hard to find, agreed! However, print on the "Louis Speiginer & the Blue Notes" band … does exist!

Louis Speiginer & his Blue Notes - Playing at the Club Marqee, 1941.

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Close up of Poster

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A memorable quote:
"...As there are vocals on the band set, so there are
two instrumentals on the Witherspoon collection, “Bounce” and “Jumpin’”, both of which are exciting boogies featuring McShann’s piano with just bass, drums and guitar (an amazing solo by one Louis Speiginer... "

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express