Jackie Wilson & Mike Leadbitter

Mike Leadbitter and Blues Unlimited

Michael Andrew Leadbitter was born in Simla, India on March 12, 1942, and died of meningitis in London on November 16th, 1974. He was 32 years old and a leading light in the revival of interest in and study of the Blues during his era. His writings and research, as well as his contributions to Blues Unlimited magazine, of which he was a founder, have been essential in the continued understanding and appreciation of this profound art form. Here is a look at some of the many milestones in Mike's blues career, transcribed from John Broven's article in the December/January 1974/74 issue of Blues Unlimited...

Both of us started at Bexhill Grammar School at the same time in September 1953, but we didn't really get to know each other until 1957. The 4th form it was, and all of a sudden we were talking about the craze of the day - rock 'n roll and Elvis, Bill Haley, Fats Domino. Even in the early days, Mike was not prepared to accept what was thrown at him by the media, so it just wasn't 'Hound Dog', 'See You Later Alligator', and 'Blueberry Hill', although goodness knows those were esoteric enough at the time. No, it was more likely to be "Black Stacks' by Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones, 'I knew From the Start' by the Moonglows and 'C.C. Rider' by Chuck Willis. Helped by a photographic memory, you could almost say he was born to be a researcher.

The English musical press in those days was turgid backwater of useless information and so Mike found he had to buy American rock 'n' roll mags, listen to AFN, and pick up obscure English record releases to further his knowledge on the intriguing scene he was uncovering. After he left school in summer 1958, we sort of lost touch for a couple of years but by the time we met up again both of us were getting deeper and deeper into R&B. By now Mike was compiling label listings and artist discographies and I was able to help due to the fact that some benevolent record shop manager in Eastbourne was giving me his copy of 'Cash Box' every week.

Blues Unlimited, May 1968 Featuring Sonny Boy Williamson & Willie Love

The early issues of Blues Unlimited reveal a surprising lack of written material from Mike, and his first major piece, on Elmore James, did not appear until BU5. However, he was really into discography at this time and he was responsible for putting together discographies of B.B. King and Junior Parker in BU and Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Homesick James, Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Love, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley in 'Collectors' Classics' with the help of assorted readers.

The years of 1963 and 1964 saw a marked increase in the popularity of the blues. BU played its part in swelling the tide, and landmarks were Neil Paterson's unprecedented articles on his blues trips to Chicago, and also the revolutionary blues package tours of Europe which game many of us the chance to interview our blues heroes for the first time. Mike was still relentlessly pursuing his discographical goal which was to manifest itself a few years later in print as 'Blues Records 1943-66.'

In 1966 he authored the 'Collectors Classic' booklet on Memphis and the foreword he wrote, 'I appeal to you all to help with the task of documenting the blues from those parts of the States that produced - and still are producing - The Blues.' You could say that was Mike's philosophy on the blues in a nutshell, he wanted to document the past in order to preserve the present and the future.

In May 1967 Mike made his first trip to the States and stayed for nearly three months in Houston and Louisiana.  When he returned home he put his experiences to paper in two BU series, 'I Know Houston Can't Be Heaven' and 'Well I'm Going to Lou'siana'.  And so we were treated to pieces, written with perception and style, on Albert Collins, Johnny Winter and Hop Wilson in Houston and Rockin' Sidney, Nathan Abshire, Harry Choates and Clarence Garlow in Louisiana. Mike even made a fleeting appearance in Les Blank's film study of Lightnin' Hopkins when he was part of the crowd in the rodeo scene, resplendent in cowboy hat an typically, consuming a bottle of beer. He also arranged a fund from BU readers so Juke boy Bonner could record a single in Houston.

During his trip he gathered much new discographical material, especially the ACA file and over the nest twelve months he and Neil Slaven applied the finishing touches to 'Blues Records'. Hanover Books published 'Blues Records 1943-66' by Mike and Neil in November 1968. Mike was now committing much of his vast knowledge into print at the rate of knots and in rapid succession BU published three extended booklets by him, 'Delta Country Blues' in 1968, 'Crowley Louisiana Blues' and 'From the Bayou' in 1969.

In September 1969 he made his second trip to the States, this time with Simon Napier. Mike produced a recording session with Rockin' Sidney at the Goldband Studios, and tried to get that 'down-home' sound by playing Lightnin' Slim records to the musicians. The editorial duo then worked their way through Louisiana and Mississippi to Memphis and then New York. Mike made a third trip to in 1970 spending time in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport.

Mike and his wife left the Sussex coast and the clerical work he hated to head for the gold-paved streets of London and a flat in Blackheath. He took up an undefined position with Hanover Books before being appointed Advertising Manager for their music magazine empire which was based around 'Jazz & Blues' in 1972 and the more prestigious 'Let It Rock' in 1973. It was here that Mike became known and respected for his honesty and integrity amongst the record industry at large, commodities which are sometimes lacking in that high-pressured industry.

Mike had not forgotten the discographical side and with a vast amount of new material 'Blues Records 1943-1966 was fast growing into 'Rhythm and Blues Records 1973-1970'. The manuscript was getting so big it was decided to split the work into three volumes, and the the first set, A-G, was ready to be handed to the printers by the end of summer.

It was in 1973 that Mike took over the sole editorship of 'Blues Unlimited' giving Simon a well-earned rest after 102 issues and ten years in the hot seat. It was also clear to his friends that he was taking on too much work for his own good what with 'Blues Unlimited' and 'Let It Rock', his two books and of course his domestic responsibilities. He was becoming run-down health-wise and in April suffered along bout of 'flu, which ended up, in Mikes own words, as 'an unspecified virus... your once chubby editor lost 2 stone.' We all thought he was getting better during the summer but in early October came the sad news that hew as critically ill in hospital with meningitis. He never recovered.

Over the years his articles appeared in numerous journals, R & B Monthly, Jazz & Blues, Melody Maker, Old Time Music, Let It Rock and Black Music. He contributed to a Specialty label listing with Tez Courtney and in his last year edited Colin Escott's and Martin Hawkin's books on 'The Sun Story' for Hanover Books.

Mike Leadbitter will never be forgotten.  He was a tireless champion of the blues, and for all his accomplishments, it is a tragedy that there was so much more he still had left to offer.