Arthur Louis
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Arthur Louis (21 June 1945 – 24 December 2014) was a British rock, blues and
reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
cross-over Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Albums and songs * ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album) * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album) * ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album) * ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
musician. His surname is pronounced as ''luːɪs (Lewis)'' and he held British nationality. He released three solo albums and was responsible for introducing the work of musician
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to
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.


Early life

Born in Jamaica, Louis moved to
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
with his family at a young age. In his late teens he attended Michigan State University where he joined and toured with the band Terminal Stations, in Brazil and Germany.


Career

At the beginning of his career Louis toured with terminal stations. He recorded his debut album ''Knockin' on Heaven's Door'' in 1974, which featured Eric Clapton and
Gene Chandler Gene Chandler (born Eugene Drake Dixon; July 6, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter, music producer, and record-label executive. Chandler is nicknamed "the Duke of Earl" or, simply, "the Duke." He is best known for his most successful son ...
. The title song, a
reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
blues version of
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
's "
Knockin' on Heaven's Door "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, written for the soundtrack of the 1973 film '' Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid''. Released as a single two months after the film's premiere, it became a worldwide hit, ...
" was released as a single in July 1975, a week before Eric Clapton released his own interpretation of Louis's arrangement, of the same song. Louis's release received attention but was over shadowed by Clapton's, which featured Louis's "Someone Like You" as the B-side. Louis's album Knocking on Heaven's Door, eventually climbed to #6 in International charts. In 1991 the German record label Discovery Sounds licensed and re-mastered his debut album, Knockin' on heaven's door and the subsequent release revived interest in his music. Later renewed interest from Japan prompted the release of his second album Back From Palookaville (1998). By 2006 Louis was making concert appearances in Europe once more, which re-established him in countries such as Italy and Spain. In December 2008, he appeared on BBC Radio 2's Paul Jones Show. In 2009 he released his third album Black Cat, a retrospective album which included new songs such as the title track "Black Cat". In the same year he played with his band at the London launch of '
Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of many major accolades, inclu ...
Presents The Blues'. On 23 August the same year he appeared in London again with
Bobby Tench Robert Tench (born 21 September 1944) is a British vocalist, guitarist, sideman, songwriter and arranger. Tench is best known for his work with Freddie King and Van Morrison, as well as being a member of The Jeff Beck Group, Humble Pie, Street ...
,
Jim Cregan James Cregan (born 9 March 1946) is an English rock guitarist and bassist, best known for his associations with Family, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Rod Stewart. Cregan is a former husband of the singer Linda Lewis and worked with her as a ...
and
Roger Chapman Roger Maxwell Chapman (born 8 April 1942 in Leicester), also known as Chappo, is an English rock vocalist. He is best known as a member of the progressive rock band Family, which he joined along with Charlie Whitney, in 1966 and also the rock ...
.


Musical style and influence

Louis's use of modern blues rock has been compared with
Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...
and Peter Brown's review of the album ''Black Cat'' (2009), stated that Louis was "the personification of easy electric blues" and that he brought "new energy and expression to the form". He was an established reggae, blues and rock cross-over artist and his interpretation of
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
's song "
Knockin' on Heaven's Door "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, written for the soundtrack of the 1973 film '' Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid''. Released as a single two months after the film's premiere, it became a worldwide hit, ...
" brought him international attention. When writing about the re-release of Louis's "Knockin' on Heaven's door" in 1991, journalist Phil Parker mentioned Louis's influence on Clapton's reggae interpretations. Other songs which exemplify his work in this genre are, his version of Dylan's "I shall be released" and "If I ever needed you" co-written with
Scott English Sheldon David "Scott" English (January 10, 1937 – November 16, 2018) was an American songwriter, arranger and record producer. He is best known as the co-writer of "Brandy" which he wrote with Richard Kerr. This song became a No. 1 hit fo ...
, both from Back from Palookaville.


Discography


Albums

*''Knockin' on Heaven's Door'', Arthur Louis featuring Eric Clapton and Gene Chandler. Plum 001 (1976) *''Back From Palookaville'', Arthur Louis. Crown 4053 (1998) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door'', Arthur Louis with Eric Clapton. Pandisc 8949 (1999) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door'', Arthur Louis featuring Eric Clapton. Discovery Sounds 250043 (2006) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door/Back From Palookaville'', Arthur Louis (double CD). Black Cat BLACKCAT001 (2008) *''Black Cat'', Arthur Louis. Black Cat BLACKCATCD 002 (2009) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door'' Arthur Louis with Eric Clapton. Solid CDSOL 1399 Japan (2011)


Singles

* "I just called to say I love you" (as Arthur Louie). Fresh Air 515 80 (1974). * "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"/"The Dealer" Arthur Louis.
Island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
WIP 6448 UK (1975) * "Knocking on Heaven's Door"/"Plum" Arthur Louis. Plum PR001 UK(1975) * "Still, It Feels Good"/"Come on And Love Me. Arthur Louis. Mainstreet 12 SPMS 104 (1981) 12" EP * "Knocking on Heaven's Door (Hot Perrers Return Mix)"/"Knocking on Heaven's Door (TNT Explosive Mix)" Arthur Louis. ARTHUR001 Promo (2000) EP


Knocking on Heaven's Door (Arthur Louis arrangement)

Arthur Louis's arrangement of the Bob Dylan song "
Knockin' on Heaven's Door "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, written for the soundtrack of the 1973 film '' Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid''. Released as a single two months after the film's premiere, it became a worldwide hit, ...
" first appeared on Louis's album "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (1974) ;also appears on * "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" single, Arthur Louis.
Island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
WIP 6448 UK (1975) * "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" single, Eric Clapton version (arr A.Louis). RSO 2090 166 (1975) *''This Is Reggae Music Vol2'' various Artists, Arthur Louis version. Mango 9327 (1975) *''This Is Reggae Music Vol2'' various Artists, Arthur Louis version.
Island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
ILPS 9327 US (1975) *''Spécial Club Eté 78 Vol1'' various artists, Arthur Louis version.
Philips Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), commonly shortened to Philips, is a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, it has been mostly headquartered in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarters i ...
6830 773 France (1978) * "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", Eric Clapton version (arr A.Louis). Track 15 CD No3 ''Crossroads'', Eric Clapton (4-CD set).
Polydor Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States ...
835 261 (1988) *''This Is Reggae Music Vol5'' various Artists, Arthur Louis version. Mango CCD9851 (1990) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door'', Arthur Louis. Pandisc 8949 (1999) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door'', Arthur Louis featuring Eric Clapton. Discovery Sounds 250043 (2006) * "Knocking On Heaven's Door", Eric Clapton version (arr A.Louis). Track 15 CD No3 ''Crossroads'', Eric Clapton (4-CD set). Polydor 530 2 809 (2007) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door'', Arthur Louis and Eric Clapton. Solid CDSOL 1399 Japan (2011)


Someone like You (Arthur Louis song)

Louis's version of this song originally appeared on his album ''Knockin' on Heaven's Door'' (1974) ;also appears on * B-side of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" single (Eric Clapton version/arr A.Louis) RSO 2090 166 (1975) * Track 16 CD No3 ''Crossroads'' (Eric Clapton 4-CD set) Polydor 835 261 (1988) *''Knocking on Heaven's Door'' Arthur Louis featuring Eric Clapton. Discovery Sounds 250043 (2006) * Track 16 CD No3 ''Crossroads'' (Eric Clapton 4-CD set). Polydor 530 2 809 (2007)


Notes


References

*Schumaker, Michael. ''Crossroads: The life and music of Eric Clapton''. Citadel Press (2003). *Branson, Richard. ''Losing my virginity: How I've survived, had fun, and made a fortune doing business my way. Vol 1''. Times Business (1999).


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Louis, Arthur 1950 births 2014 deaths British male singers British male guitarists British male songwriters