Biography
Cincinnati singer Robert "H-Bomb" Ferguson could easily be mistaken at first for a comic lightweight, given his flamboyant stage behavior and the rainbow hues of his fright wig. Yet he ranks among the final surviving figures from the jump blues period, having transformed his early, near-total emulation of Wynonie Harris into a vocal approach that stands out as distinctly personal.
A reverend father underwrote piano instruction for young Ferguson but insisted the lessons remain confined to gospel material. That restriction proved short-lived, since at nineteen Bobby joined Joe Liggins & the Honeydrippers on the road. Once the band reached New York, Ferguson struck out independently; comedian Nipsey Russell, then hosting shows at Harlem's Baby Grand Club, secured him a spot on the bill, where he performed under the name "the Cobra Kid."
Earlier 78s issued on Derby, Atlas, and Prestige gave way to a 1951-1952 association with Savoy Records that yielded several of his strongest sides. Although the performances clearly echoed Harris, they swung hard and benefited from first-rate support, notably the fiery saxophone work of Purvis Henson and Count Hastings. Drummer Jack "The Bear" Parker, present on those Savoy sessions, is said to have supplied the explosive nickname, while others attribute it to producer Lee Magid; in either case, Ferguson's explosive delivery lived up to the moniker.
He eventually settled in Cincinnati and cut further material for Finch, Big Bang, ARC, and, in 1960, the more prominent Federal label. Touring ceased in the early 1970s, but when Ferguson resurfaced his trademark wig routine, modeled on Rick James' hairstyle, had fully developed. With his young backing group the Medicine Men he finally released a debut album, Wiggin' Out, on Chicago's Earwig imprint in 1993. The set confirmed that his outrageous energy remained undiminished, as the lascivious track "Meatloaf" demonstrated, while also showcasing his piano skills and a growing sense of artistic independence. Ferguson became a steady presence on blues and R&B festival stages, maintaining Cincinnati as his base until his death there on November 26, 2006.
A reverend father underwrote piano instruction for young Ferguson but insisted the lessons remain confined to gospel material. That restriction proved short-lived, since at nineteen Bobby joined Joe Liggins & the Honeydrippers on the road. Once the band reached New York, Ferguson struck out independently; comedian Nipsey Russell, then hosting shows at Harlem's Baby Grand Club, secured him a spot on the bill, where he performed under the name "the Cobra Kid."
Earlier 78s issued on Derby, Atlas, and Prestige gave way to a 1951-1952 association with Savoy Records that yielded several of his strongest sides. Although the performances clearly echoed Harris, they swung hard and benefited from first-rate support, notably the fiery saxophone work of Purvis Henson and Count Hastings. Drummer Jack "The Bear" Parker, present on those Savoy sessions, is said to have supplied the explosive nickname, while others attribute it to producer Lee Magid; in either case, Ferguson's explosive delivery lived up to the moniker.
He eventually settled in Cincinnati and cut further material for Finch, Big Bang, ARC, and, in 1960, the more prominent Federal label. Touring ceased in the early 1970s, but when Ferguson resurfaced his trademark wig routine, modeled on Rick James' hairstyle, had fully developed. With his young backing group the Medicine Men he finally released a debut album, Wiggin' Out, on Chicago's Earwig imprint in 1993. The set confirmed that his outrageous energy remained undiminished, as the lascivious track "Meatloaf" demonstrated, while also showcasing his piano skills and a growing sense of artistic independence. Ferguson became a steady presence on blues and R&B festival stages, maintaining Cincinnati as his base until his death there on November 26, 2006.
Albums
