Blues singer/songwriter Percy Mayfield was a profound influence upon the fabric of Americana.
He was a wit, and the consumate urbane, and may I add - very dapper hipster. PM was born in Louisiana on Aug. 12, 1920.
He topped the R&B charts in 1950 on Art Rupe's Specialty label with the seminal blues ballad, "Please Send Me Someone To Love" - which has been covered by a variety of artists.(Including Sade, Fiona Apple, Gladys Knight, Simply Red, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, and Luther Allison to name a few.) And it's no secret that his songwriting influenced Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. Percy said the tune was a prayer for world peace - while it also speaks to a racially segregated America. At the same time, it's also a poignant blues ballad of yearning.
Mr. Mayfield also penned the number one smash hit, "Hit the Road Jack" for Ray Charles and other classics for Ray, including "Two Years of Torture" and the brilliant "The Danger Zone" - among numerous other nuggets. It is every bit as relevant now as it was then, when it was a snapshot of height of the cold war... Percy Mayfield
The Danger Zone
words and music by Percy Mayfield
Sad and lonely all the time
That's because I've got a worried mind
You know the world is in an uproar
The danger zone is everywhere, everywhere
Just read your paper
And you'll see
Just exactly what keeps worryin' me
Yeah, you'll see the world is in an uproar
The danger zone is everywhere
My love for the world is like always
For the world is a part of me
That's why I'm so afraid
Of the progress that's being made
Toward eternity
Every morning, noon, and night
Finds me hoping that everything's alright
Mm-hmm, the world is in an uproar
The danger zone is everywhere
I had the pleasure of calling Percy my friend. I got to spend a decent amount of time with him, often into the wee hours. Never a dull moment,he was hilarious. He was a wit, a philospher, a poet and truly one of a kind.
I'm a musician, I play guitar with Etta James.
In the late 70's and eighties, while holding down the guitar chair with old pal, pianist/bandleader Mark Naftalin, ( an alum of the Paul Butterfield Band, among numerous other credits ) we did a documentary and a recording ( and numerous gigs ) entitled "Poet Laureate of the Blues" which was released in 1982.
In the movie, Ray - Percy is mentioned, in passing, and Ray (Jamie Foxx) is shown working out Percy's tune,"Hit the Road Jack" while having a discussion with Raelette Margie Hendricks.
And while Percy is no longer with us, his gifts live on - and he truly is an American treasure. I miss you Percy and I hope our country can again give the world the kind of pearls which you gave instead of this madness.
Please Send Me Someone To Love
words and music by Percy Mayfield
Heaven please send to all mankind
Understanding and peace and mind
But if it's not asking too much
Please send me someone to love
Someone to love
Show the world how to get along
And peace will enter when hate is gone
But if it is not asking too much
Please send me someone to love
Please send me someone to love
I lay awake night and ponder the world's trouble
And my answer is always the same
And until man put an end - to this damnable sin
Hate will put the world in a flame, what a shame
Just because I am in misery
I don't beg for no sympathy
But if it is not asking too much
Please send me someone to love
Please send me someone to love
American treasure