The Thrill is Gone

Ronnie Stewart, the founder of the Bay Area Blues Society, tells of Oakland’s rich history in music in this article on The Oakbook:

“Oakland’s history is music. It has the same bloodline as Chicago, Beale Street (in Memphis) and New Orleans.”

“B.B. King’s biggest hit, ‘The Thrill is Gone’ was written here by Roy Hawkins. He was breaking up with his girlfriend and wrote it right here on Seventh and Center Streets. Etta James, Big Mama Thornton and Sugar Pie DeSanto lived in the same house at Eighth and Peralta.

Otis Redding played at the Continental Club on Twelfth Street. Al Green’s first west coast appearance was at Esther’s Orbit Room on Seventh Street, the location of Oakland’s legendary stretch of blues and jazz clubs.

“I was raised at Eighth and Adeline,” Stewart recalls. “I’ll never forget, they used to put all the posters for the shows up on Adeline. If I had known, I could have had one great collection of blues posters.”

Oakland was known for its musicians. “It was a breeding ground for musicians, “ Stewart said. “Prince, Barry White they came here to get musicians. Because of the blues roots, people had an ear, they were creative. They understood music. Sly (Stone), the Whispers, Johnny Otis all nurtured their careers in Oakland.”