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went back to driving the school bus. Sadly, as he told me, nobody back in Detroit believed the tales

of his adventures – until they saw the American Blues Legends '73 album of the tour, that is.

The following year, we arranged the first of half a dozen UK/European tours for The Flying Eagle,
otherwise known as Doctor Ross, The Harmonica Boss, Born Charles Isaiah Ross in Tunica,
Mississippi, given the soubriquet of Doctor because folk thought that the neat little case that housed

his harmonicas resembled that carried by a doctor.

He was an early star of Sam Phillips' Memphis-based Sun Records when
his 45s were juke joint favourites in the mid -1950s. Convinced that
he was being cheated out of his due royalties, he quit Sun and

moved to Fortune Records in Detroit where he recorded his brilliant
“Cat Squirrel” - later to be recorded by super group Cream, Jethro Tull,
Blodwyn Pig and more.

He fired his band on the basis that he could play everything better
himself – which he proceeded to do as a one-man band. He was an

unmitigated success on his Big Bear tours, sometimes a delight to
work with, at other times verging on the impossible – depending
on the amount of whiskey consumed.

He recorded two Big Bear albums, “Live at Montreux” and

“Doctor Ross The Harmonica Boss”. The latter appeared recently
on the Facebook account of Al Gare, who for many a year was a
star of King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys as double bass player,
Slap Happy.

Al commented: “Maybe one of the finest releases from the

Birmingham Big Bear label, just fantastic, no filler, all
killer! Amazing Doctor Ross, 1972”

Hot on the heels of Jesse Fuller and Doctor Ross in the top
one man band charts comes Weldon H. Phillip Bonner – the

great Juke Boy Bonner.

He was born one of nine children in Bellville, Texas in
1932. Both parents died when he was a child and Bonner
was raised by neighbours. He started playing guitar when
he was twelve and kicked off his musical career when he

was sixteen years old, winning first prize on disk jockey
Trummie Cain's weekly talent show at the Lincoln Theatre
in Houston. As a result he landed a 15 minute radio slot
sponsored by record retailer Henry Allas.

He married and had three children before his wife deserted
him, leaving him to bring up his family single-handed.

Juke Boy's influences were Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed and Slim Harpo, he recorded for Irma
Records in Oakland, California, then Goldband, Storyville, Arhoolie, Sonet and Houston-based Home
Cooking Records, accompanying himself on guitar, harmonica and drums.