Slim Harpo: King Bee of the Swamp Blues

Slim Harpo: King Bee of the Swamp Blues tells the remarkable story of James Isaac Moore, the Louisiana singer, harmonica player and songwriter who helped define swamp blues and left a lasting mark on rock and popular music. Drawing on his Baton Rouge roots, his rise through the local club scene, and his crucial partnership with producer Jay Miller, Simon Godfrey traces how Harpo developed a sound that was sly, relaxed and unmistakably his own. From the breakthrough of I'm a King Bee to the crossover success of Baby Scratch My Back, this is the story of a musician who found commercial success without ever losing his regional identity. The book also follows Harpo's working life, his touring years, and the surprising reach of his songs, which were embraced by British Invasion bands and rediscovered by later generations. Written with warmth and wit, it offers blues fans a lively, accessible portrait of an artist whose recordings continue to buzz through music history.