Posted on 2025-06-29

DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Jelly Roll Kings Playing I Didn’t Know
From The Archives Of Something Blue – 2025-06-29

https://sbblues.com/2025/06/29/dj-hairy-larry-presents-the-jelly-roll-kings-playing-i-didnt-know/


Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear the real blues played by some delta musicians.

I met Frank Frost, Sam Carr, and Jack Johnson when Vivian and I were enjoying blues festivals in the nineties. They played every year in Helena, Arkansas, and Clarksdale, Mississippi, and after a few years we became friends. Frank and Sam even came up to Jonesboro to play at Blues Fest and at the Delta Blues Symposium. They are, all three, genuine blues legends.

Frank was born in Auvergne, Arkansas. When I met him Frank lived in Helena in an apartment above Ettie Mae’s Cafe, my home away from home during the festival. I remember one time Vivian and I were visiting at the cafe before the festival started and Frank brought out the Jelly Roll Kings album. At first I wasn’t sure I could afford it but I decided I had to have it and I bought it from Frank. Ettie Mae looked at me and said, “I knew you were going to buy that”. Frank Frost fronted the real blues band in the black juke joint in the movie, “Crossroads”.

Sam Carr was born in Friar’s Point, Mississippi, but when I knew him he lived across the river from Helena in Lula. Vivian became close friends with Sam’s wife, Doris, who always saved a chair for her so they could talk during the festivals. Sam won the best blues drummer award in Living Blues magazine, year after year. After Frank passed in 1999 Sam continued playing at the King Biscuit Blues Festival with our friend, Dave Riley, fronting his band. Sam also played at the Levon Helm show in Helena in 2000. Doris passed in 2008. Sam passed in 2009.

“Big” Jack Johnson was born in Lambert, Missippi. He got a break in 1962 when he played with Frank and Sam at Clarksdale’s Savoy Theater. They recorded “Hey Boss Man!” at Sun Studios which was released on the Phillips label. According to the Mississippi Folklife Directory, “In 1978 Frank recorded the group, and the following year he started the Earwig label to issue the Jelly Roll Kings’ album, ‘Rockin’ the Juke Joint Down’.” I met Jack at the festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, but I also heard him in Helena. Jack Johnson passed in 2011

So, I lift a glass to friends passed, all fine outstanding musicians. They may be gone but their music is forever.