CHARLIE SEGAR

Poca documentación existe del pianista CHARLIE SEGAR, autor del tema KEY TO THE HIGHWAY , aunque algún historiador se lo atribuye también a Big Bill Broonzy , en realidad el primero que lo grabó al piano fué este artista del cual se desconoce casi todo, incluso su propia imagen que a falta de la misma optamos por ilustar el post con una de las portadas en las cuales aparece al menos su nombre. Existen algunas grabaciones de Blues y Boogie que os ofrecemos .

                   

                       

"Key to the Highway" is a blues standard that has been performed and recorded by several blues and other artists. Blues pianist Charlie Segar first recorded the song in 1940. Jazz Gillum and Big Bill Broonzy followed with recordings during 1940–41, using an arrangement that has become the standard. When Little Walter updated the song in 1958 in an electric Chicago blues style, it became a success on the R&B record chart. A variety of artists have since interpreted the song, including Eric Clapton, who recorded several versions.

"Key to the Highway" is usually credited to Charles "Chas" Segar and William "Big Bill" Broonzy. Broonzy explained the song's development:

Some of the verses he [Charlie Segar] was singing it in the South the same time as I sung it in the South. And practically all of blues is just a little change from the way that they was sung when I was a kid ... You take one song and make fifty out of it ... just change it a little bit.

Segar's lyrics are nearly the same as those recorded by Broonzy and Jazz Gillum. The verses use the theme of the itinerant bluesman leaving to travel the highways after breaking up with his lover:

I got the key to the highway, billed out and bound to go

I'm gonna leave here runnin', because walkin' is much too slow ...

Give me one more kiss mama, just before I go

'Cause when I'm leavin' here, I won't be back no more

Musically, however, there are differences in the recorded versions. Charlie Segar's original "Key to the Highway" was performed as a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues.[3] When Jazz Gillum recorded it later that year with Broonzy on guitar, he used an eight-bar blues arrangement (May 9, 1940 Bluebird B 8529). In two different interviews, Gillum gave conflicting stories about who wrote the song: in one, he claimed sole authorship, in another he identified Broonzy "the real author".[ Thechord progression is as follows:

I V7 IV IV I V7 I–IV I–V7

A year later, Broonzy recorded "Key to the Highway" with Gillum on harmonica, Horace Malcolm on piano, Washboard Sam on washboard, and an unknown bassist, also using an eight-bar arrangement (May 2, 1941 OKeh 6242). According to Broonzy, he used an original melody which was based on childhood songs.These earliest recorded versions of "Key to the Highway" were released before record industry trade publications, such as Billboard magazine began tracking such releases. While it is difficult to gauge which version was the most popular, the eight-bar arrangement used by Gillum and Broonzy has become the standard for subsequent recordings.

                   

Composed by Charles Segar

Charles Segar made his first recordings as piano solos for Decca in 1934 and '35 billed as Charlie Segar. In 1940 he recorded four numbers for Vocalion that also featured his vocals including this one. The song was covered by Jazz Gillum in May of that year for Bluebird with his version featuring Big Bill Broonzy on guitar with a different melody. Gillum's version became a blues standard later covered by many blues and rock artists. Broonzy's name was tacked onto the songwriting credits. Broonzy and Segar may have known each other since they were both Chicago-based artists in 1940. 

Charles Segar:Vocals & Piano

Possibly Fred Williams:Drums

Recorded in Chicago, IL. Friday, February 23, 1940

Originally issued on and this recording taken from the 1940 single (Vocalion 05441) (78 RPM)

Charlie Segar was an American blues pianist and occasional singer, who is best known for the blues standard, "Key to the Highway" in 1940. Originally from Pensacola, Florida, Segar has been dubbed the "Keyboard Wizard Supreme". He relocated to Chicago, where he made recordings with other blues artists, such as Bumble Bee Slim and Memphis Minnie, as well as being the featured artist."Key to the Highway" is one of eight known songs Segar recorded under his own name between 1934 and 1940 for Decca and Vocalion.

Charlie Segar's original "Key to the Highway" was done in the form of a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues. When Jazz Gillum recorded it later that year, the song became an eight-bar blues, as it is usually known (May 9, 1940 Bluebird B 8529).

Eight of Segar's song performances appear on the compilation album, Piano Blues, Vol. 2: 1927-1956.

Segar's version of "Key to the Highway" appears on Chicago Blues 1940 - 1947.