After 20 years of bitter dealings in the music business, Otis Rush won a Grammy in 1998 for his album on the House of Blues label. Rush has performed very little since suffering a stroke in 2004. He insisted on keeping a December concert date in Japan that year. His voice was weak but the intensity of his emotions brought tears to many in the audience. http://www.blues.co.nz/news/article.php?id=498
Another Cobra West Side guitarist, Magic Sam Maghett, became a symbol for the emerging urban blues generation before his life was tragically cut short by heart problems in 1969. Magic Sam recommended Buddy Guy, another fiery guitarist Louisiana, to the Cobra label. Guy still dominates the Chicago scene with his downtown club and rocks the international stage with his energetic guitar showmanship. All these guitarists gave Cobra, and the West Side, a reputation for raw but highly skilled, emotional music.
Toscano moved the Cobra moved office to 3346 W. Roosevelt in 1958. On a subsidiary, Artistic, Cobra recorded Magic Sam’s uncle and first bandleader, Shakey Jake (James T. Harris). Jake got his name (shake the dice) from his 15 years as a professional gambler. Even though he knew his band wouldn’t earn much playing in small clubs and lounges, Jake was only too happy to challenge the club owners to a game. Jake donated his harp playing on his first Artistic record “Call Me if You Need Me,” but ended up winning $700 from Toscano. Jake told Mike Rowe, author of the book Chicago Blues (DaCapo Press 1975): “Eli was a crap-shooting fool!”
It could be that Eli gambled once too many. Cobra Records ground to a halt with the gangland murder of Toscano in 1959. His body was dragged out of Lake Michigan. But the mighty music he recorded, and the West Siders created, lives on.
Hear more about Cobra: http://www.podfeed.net/episode/Eli Toscanos Blues – Abco Artistic and Cobra Pt. 3/2686832
West Side blues music and history is a buried treasure which shines up nicely to show off the community’s identity and pride.
Article Appeared @http://www.austinweeklynews.com/Community/Blogs/11-6-2013/Cobra-Records-and-Otis-Rush/