Joe Houston, the legendary Texas tenor saxophonist and early rock & roll pioneer, passed this evening, December 28, 2015, at the Rose Villa Assisted Living Facility in Long Beach, California. He was 89 years old. 

Originally from Bastrop, Texas, Joe gigged, toured and recorded with King Kolax, Amos Milburn, Wynonie Harris, Little Richard and Big Joe Turner, among many others. He also made many of his own records, like All Night Long, Worry, Worry, Worry, Blow Joe Blow and Cornbread & Cabbage Greens mostly for the Bihari Brothers, for Modern Records. 

Joe was a long time resident of Long Beach. He continued touring and recording well into his 70's and 80's. His last two albums of new material were The Blues & Nothing Else on Shattered Records and Live at Cafe Voltaire. Both were released independently in the mid '90's. Besides being one of the pioneers of the honking and shouting style of wild r&b that morphed into early rock & roll, Joe also had a big beautiful blues soaked singing voice that was used to great effect on his last couple of albums. 

Joe was the real deal;he was one of our last living breathing and performing links to a time when this music was a vital thriving entity. We’re not likely see to see the likes of him again anytime soon, if ever.

On a personal note, Joe was my musical Father and my son Mason's Godfather. I am supremely honored and grateful to have been able to do fifteen plus years of hard touring with Joe as well as play on his last two albums with him.  I'm writing this from his bedside at Rose Villa. He'll be deeply deeply missed.

So Long Pops, We Loved You Madly.