Cicero Blake
Born on February 20th, 1938, in Jackson, Mississippi, Cicero moved to Chicago with his family in the early 1950s and settled on the west side. Blake singing career began in a church choir, then the Golden Tones while still in high school, and he performed in military shows in the Air Force. Cicero Blake's was the original lead singer of the group, who evolved into the Kool Gents, the group that sprung Dee Clark After leaving the group Blake made many solo recordings for small Chicago labels (Brainstorm, Renee, Success, etc.). When he got the chance to record for a major label-Brunswick Records in 1967--the two tracks he cut "You Got Me Walking," and "A Woman Needs To Be Love" were shelved for 20 years. He recorded his first
single, "Don't Do This To Me" for Success Records in 1962; though he never charted, many of his R&B singles "Sad Feelings," and "If I Had My Way," found acceptance with Northern Soul lovers. "Love Is Like A Boomerang" received more attention then previous efforts. Blake continued working and recording throughout the 70's, 80's, and 90's while holding
down a job working for Cook County as one of the Maywood Park Districts' commissioners.
He recorded two albums for the California-based Valley Vue Records,
followed by a pair of LPs for Johnny Vincent's Ace imprint. In the
2000s Blake had only two albums to his name- one for Mardi Gras in
2003 and one for Hep' Me in 2008. A new album is due in 2010.
Album Discography
"Too Hip To Be Happy" (Valley Vue
1988)
1. Dip My Dipper
2. Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong
3. Too Hip to Be Happy
4. I Saw It Coming
5. School of Life
6. She's Cheatin' on You
7. Oh Pretty Woman
8. I've Got to Use My Imagination
*** Breakthrough
album containing his signature song "Dip My Dipper". Also includes
the fine Blake originals "Too Hip To Be Happy" (later covered by
Vernon Garrett) & "I Saw It Coming". He also does two songs
associated with Albert King ("Don't Throw Your Love On Me So
Strong", "Oh Pretty Woman"). Despite the synthesizer this is
enjoyable modern soul blues.
"Just One Of Those Things" (Valley Vue 1993)
1. Don't Wanna Blow My
Chance With You
2. Just One of Those Things
3. Laundromat Blues
4. Low Down Dirty Blues
5. Caught in the Wrong Again
6. High Steppin' Mama
7. Don't Even Try It
8. Girl I'm in Love With You
9. As the Years Go Passing By
10. That Love Is Gone
11. I'm Into Something
12. Things That I Used to Do
**** Blake's
second outing for Valley Vue is even stronger. Again he covers all
the bases in the soul/blues realm. Good straight-up blues
("Laundromat Blues", "As The Years Go Passing By" & "High Steppin'
Mama"), strong soulful slowies ("Don't Wanna Blow My Chance With
You" & "Just One Of Those Things"), midtempo Memphis soul ("I'm Into
Something", "Girl I'm In Love With You" & "Caught In The Wrong
Again") & funky blues ("Low Down Dirty Blues"). Six songs came from
the prolific pen of Bob Jones.
"Wives Night Out" (Ace 1996)
1. Wives Night Out
2. Getting the Best of Nothing
3. Turn Your Porch Light On
4. Telling Her About You
5. Love Like a Woman
6. Time to Get up (Go Home)
7. I Saw It Coming
8. Let It Roll
9. I'm the Man for You
10. I Got the Touch If You Got the Time
***
1/2 First
for Ace Records features the Bob Jones-penned title track (with Pat
Brown, who continues her famous "Equal Opportunity" theme) and two
strong Ronnie Lovejoy covers ("Getting The Best Of Nothing" & "Turn
Your Porch Light On"). Blake also redoes a cut from his Valley Vue
days ("I Saw It Coming"). For some reason two of the cuts were
carried over to his next album ("Telling Her About You" & "Time To
Get Up (And Go Home)".
"Stand By Me" (Ace 1998)
1. Stand by Me
2. Give Me Something to Come Back To
3. You're the Keeper of My Flame
4. I Got to Find a Black Cat Bone
5. Great Pretender
6. This Time Around
7. Somebody Is Telling Our Business
8. I Got to Talk to Your Man
9. Telling Her About You
10. Time to Get up (Go Home)
**** Second
Ace outing for Cicero features the entire arsenal : Modern
Memphis soul ("Stand By Me", "Give Me Something", "The Great
Pretender",), soul blues ("Time To Get Up And Go Home", "Somebody's
Telling Our Business" & "Talk To Your Man"), funky R & B ("Black Cat
Bone") & romantic crooning ("Telling Her About You"). Blake's
singing is smooth and earnest and the album never dips in quality.