Louis Speiginer's band and contributions

Our family's history, one memory at a time…

The band - Louis Speiginer & the Blue Notes

Various Blues (Boogie) bands that Louis S. Speiginer recorded with:
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ALthough many Guitars were owned by Uncle over the years, he often talked to me about his first Gibson and the Gibson he had mid 1960- his passing. The picture is close to the first Gibson that he had.


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This next Gibson (L5-CES) is the same model and look as his last one he had when he passed. This Guitar remains with the Speiginer Family/is proudly owned by Sjorgn S. Speiginer.


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The 1958 Gibson Double 12 dual neck Guitar. We were all at Uncles house in Pomona and the request came to play the dual neck guitar. This was played by dad & uncle (dad sitting on a chair playing the lower neck and Uncle standing in back of him playing the upper neck).

There was a switch near the bridge plate that originally provided the option of switching the electronics to either neck. The electronics were two volume and two tone controls and a pickup selector switch that controlled the pickups on either neck. Uncle had modified the guitar so that it would play with two different amps at the same time (one for each neck).

It was a very rich sound and Uncle had to slow down and wait for dad to play the base.. (Dad was very rusty and not as talented as Uncle). Aunt Gertha's water broke about an hour after they played and the back seat of the Nash was removed to carry her out of the house. On the very same day Dauphne was born.


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The Banjo that Dad played and owned since 1932 was the 1928 Bacon & Day Silver Bell. It looks very close to these photos.

These pictures represent the same model and look as Dad's Banjo. Dad's Banjo remains with the Speiginer Family and is proudly owned by Gary Speiginer.
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Here is a compendium of some of the many albums with Uncle's name as Guitarist.

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Louis Speiginer CD discography Blue Moon.
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Louis Speiginer albums early trio years from 1949 thru 1953.
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Louis Speiginer songs
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Recorded in Los Angeles, California from 1947 to 1949: Louis Speiginer, Tiny Webb (guitar).
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Louis Speiginer CD discography BLUES + JAZZ features 40 tracks recorded between 1950 and 1959.
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Louis Speiginer CD discography Recording information: Los Angeles, CA (04/26/1947-05/25/1949).
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Louis Speiginer albums Includes liner notes by Jean Buzelin.
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Louis Speiginer discography Recorded between 1941 and 1949.
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Louis Speiginer (guitar); Los Angeles, CA (1945-1949); Pasadena (1945-1949)
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Louis Speiginer music CDs Jazz legend Ray Charles
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Louis Speiginer songs Buddy Tate


Below pictured are the actual records that Uncle has pressed and were sold. There was an album that contained "Louie's Guitar Boogie" and a 78 that I have yet to find in my records .
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Louie's Guitar Boogie - Recorded 11/20/1947 by: Louis Speiginer
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Many family members have asked me about the band name and that it is so hard to find in any search. Hard to find, agreed! However, print on the "Louis Speiginer & the Blue Notes" band … does exist!

Louis Speiginer & his Blue Notes - Playing at the Club Marqee, 1941.

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Close up of Poster

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A memorable quote:
"...As there are vocals on the band set, so there are
two instrumentals on the Witherspoon collection, “Bounce” and “Jumpin’”, both of which are exciting boogies featuring McShann’s piano with just bass, drums and guitar (an amazing solo by one Louis Speiginer... "

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express


Lastly, Dad and Uncle would always say that Uncle developed a style of playing that was "an original" and so many later copied him but never gave him credit. Here is a very informative quote that backs their words spoken in the late 1950's. It reads:

"The second disc -- Guitar Boogies, Sax Screamers, Gospel Roads -- includes classic songs from great singers who influenced Fifties rock'n'roll and the British blues boom of the early Sixties: it opens with Arthur Crudup's That's All Right Mama from '46 (which Elvis famously kicked off his career with), moves into Big Joe Williams' Baby Please Don't Go (which Van Morrison and the Animals covered) and Louis Speiginer's Guitar Boogie was adapted by every plank spanker from Chuck Berry to Jeff Beck."

Source: http://www.elsewhere.co.nz