Bacon Fat -

Bacon Fat was an American blues-rock band from California that released two albums in 1970/71 on Blue Horizon. The band was joined on these sessions by veteran harpist George “Harmonica” Smith (1924–1983), whose career stretched back to mid-’50s recordings by Otis Spann and Chuck Berry. In-house harpist Rod “Gingerman” Piazza cut numerous solo albums and performed in a sequence of bands, including his own backing act The Mighty Flyers.

Members: Rod “Gingerman” Piazza (harp, vocals), George “Harmonica” Smith (harp, vocals), Buddy Reed (guitar, vocals), Gregg Schaefer (guitar), J.D. Nicholson (vocals, piano), Jerry Smith (bass), Dick Innes, Jr. (drums)

Background

Bacon Fat began as a George Smith working band in 1968 in Los Angeles when harmonica player George “Harmonica” Smith recruited harmonica player Rod Piazza and drummer Richard Innes for club dates in Watts. The musicians worked under the George Smith Blues Band featuring Rod Piazza and Southside Blues Band names. Guitarist Buddy Reed came from Rialto, while bassist Jerry Smith came from Riverside. Fourteen-year-old guitarist Gregg Schaefer also came from Riverside, while pianist J.D. Nicholson entered from the Watts club circuit.

Piazza was born Dec. 18, 1947, in Riverside, California, and started guitar at age six or seven. Jimmy Reed gave Piazza a harmonica after a backstage meeting arranged by an older brother, and Piazza concentrated on the instrument as a teenager. Piazza formed House of DBS in 1965 in Riverside; the group became Dirty Blues Band and released a self-titled album in 1967 and Stone Dirt in 1968 on ABC-BluesWay.

Ivan Elmo “Buddy” Reed grew up in Rialto, California, and formed the Exits while in high school. Reed renamed the group Original Southside Blues Band by 1967 and met Piazza at a Riverside radio showcase. Reed began playing with Piazza and Innes after the meeting.

Smith learned harmonica from mother Jessie in childhood and settled in Los Angeles in 1955 after a tour with Little Willie John and Champion Jack Dupree. Smith recorded for RPM after the move, then cut singles for Nat McCoy labels Sotoplay and Carolyn. Nicholson already appeared on Smith recordings for California labels when he entered the working band from the Watts club circuit.

The group became the weekend house band at Small Paradise in 1969 at 53rd Street and Avalon Boulevard in Watts. They also backed visiting acts, including Pee Wee Crayton and Lightnin’ Hopkins at the club.

Producer Mike Vernon saw the group open for Paul Butterfield at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach and offered a Blue Horizon contract. Vernon planned separate recordings for George Smith and the remaining musicians. Reed proposed the name Bacon Fat, taken from the title of a 1957 Fortune Records single by Detroit R&B singer Andre Williams.

Discography: