Gary B.B. Coleman

Born 1947 in Paris, Texas. As hinted at by the "B.B." moniker added to his name Coleman was an admirer of B.B. King, but more so Albert King (who he mostly resembled as a guitar player) and of course Freddie King. When he was 15, he was working with Freddie King and later supported Lightnin' Hopkins and formed his own band, which played around Texas. Gary also began booking blues musicians into clubs in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. He continued to play gigs and book concerts for nearly two decades. In 1985, he formed Mr. B's Records, his own independent label. Coleman released his debut album, "Nothin' But The Blues" the following year. The album was popular and gained the attention of Ichiban Records, who signed Coleman and re-released the record in 1987, which managed a #74 placing on Billboard's R & B Albums chart. A fruitful relationship ensued with the label. In addition to his own records he began producing albums for a number of other artists, as well as writing songs for other musicians and acting as an A&R scout for Ichiban. Between 1988 and 1992, he released six records and produced another 30. Some of his productions include albums by Little Johnny Taylor, Blues Boy Willie, Chick Willis, Vernon Garrett and Buster Benton. Coleman died in 1994.

Album Discography

"Nothin' But The Blues" (Ichiban 1987)

1.Stealing Your Love Tonight
2.Stumble
3.Let Me Love You Baby
4.Shame On You
5.One Eyed Woman
6.Honky Tonk Part 3
7.I Love You So
8.I Won't Be Your Fool

"If You Can Beat Me Rockin'" (Ichiban 1988)

1. Watch Where You Stroke
2. Cloud Nine
3. Please Don't Dog Me
4. If the Washing Don't Get You
5. If You Can Beat Me Rockin'
6. It Just Ain't Right
7. Rub My Back
8. St. James Infirmary
9. Hide Away

"One Night Stand" (Ichiban 1989)

1. Baby Scratch My Back
2. I Wrote This Song For You
3. As the Years Go Passing By
4. I Just Can't Lose This Blues
5. I Fell in Love on a One-Night Stand
6. I'll Take Care of You
7. Going Down

"Dancin' My Blues Away" (Ichiban 1990)

1.Word of Warning
2.Think Before You Act
3.What's the Name of That Thing?
4.I Gotta Play the Blues for You
5.Dancin' My Blues Away
6.Maybe Love Wasn't Meant for Me
7.Can't Spend My Money
8.Blues at Sunrise

"Romance Without Finance Is A Nuisance" (Ichiban 1991)

1. She Ain't Ugly (She Just Don't Look Like Nobody Else)
2. Don't Give Away That Recipe
3. If You See My One-Eyed Woman
4. Dealin' From The Bottom Of The Deck
5. Romance Without Finance (Is A Nuisance)
6. Food Stamp Annie
7. Mr. Chicken Stew
8. Mr. B's Frosting (Instrumental)

"The Best Of Gary B.B. Coleman" (Ichiban 1991)

1. One Eyed Woman
2. Baby Scratch My Back
3. Cloud Nine
4. A Word Of Warning
5. I Fell In Love On A One Night Stand
6. Merry Christmas Baby
7. Watch Where You Stroke
8. Think Before You Act
9. If You Can Beat Me Rockin' (You Can Have My Chair)
10. St. James Infirmary
11. I Won't Be Your Fool
12. Christmas Blues (Instrumental)

"Too Much Weekend" (Ichiban 1992)

 1. Too Much Weekend
2. The Elk Side
3. The Sky Is Crying
4. Uncle Bud
5. Welfare Cadillac
6. Crosscut Saw
7. Neckbone

"Cocaine Annie" (Icehouse, Priority 1994,1996)

1. Little Bit of Your Gravy-Run All over My Plate
2. That's Enough
3. Sleeper
4. Something About You
5. I'm Gonna Find Her
6. Cocaine Annie
7. Personal Manager
8. Baby Please Come Home
9. I No Something's on Your Mind
10. My Old Cow's Sick
11. Answer to (Laundromat Blues)

"Retrospectives" (Ichiban 1998)

1. Sky Is Crying, The
2. Too Much Weekend
3. Welfare Cadillac
4. Maybe Love Wasn't Meant for Me
5. Blues at Sunrise
6. What's the Name of That Thing?
7. Romance Without Finance (Is a Nuisance)
8. Don't Give That Recipe Away
9. St. James Infirmary
10. If You Can Beat Me Rockin' (You Can Have My Chair)
11. I Fell in Love on a One Night Stand
12. I Just Can't Lose These Blues

"American Roots: Blues" (Ichiban/Rykodisc 2002)

1. I Wrote This Song For You
2. I Just Can't Lose These Blues
3. I Fell in Love on a One-Night Stand
4. I Gotta Play the Blues For You
5. Dancin' My Blues Away
6. Maybe Love Wasn't Meant For Me
7. Watch Where You Stroke
8. If You Can Beat Me Rockin' (You Can Have My Chair)
9. I Won't Be Your Fool
10. If You See My One-Eyed Woman
11. Romance Without Finance (Is a Nuisance)
12. Food Stamp Annie
13. Too Much Weekend
14. Neckbone