Blues, Jazz, Country nicknames: is there a specific word for the nickname phenomenon?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I'm thinking mainly of blues' nickname-tmesis (Walter "Furry" Lewis, Eric Slowhand Clapton, etc.), but also musician's nicknames in general (Old Blue Eyes, Satchmo, The Boss, The King of Rock 'n' Roll) - is there a word in circulation for such nicknames? Is it simply sobriquet, or moniker, or alias, or is there a dedicated musical word, like "chops" is the esoteric word musicians use to mean style and / or technical skill.

― P People, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

sobrockuet

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

1) Slowhand-ERIC CLAPTON
2) His purple highness-PRINCE
3) The king of pop-MICHAEL JACKSON
4) The red rocker-SAMMY HAGAR
5) The greatest Rock 'N' Roll band of all time-ROLLING STONES
6) Satchmo-LOUIS ARMSTRONG
7) The boss-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
8) King George-GEORGE STRAIT
9) The fab four-BEATLES
10) Bocephus-HANK WILLIAMS JR
11) The queen of soul-ARETHA FRANKLIN
12) The gentle giant-DON WILLIAMS
13) Ziggy Stardust-DAVID BOWIE
14) The possom-GEORGE JONES
15) The godfather of soul (also the hardest working man in showbuisness)-JAMES BROWN
16) Alf-ALISON MOYET
17) The prince of darkness-OZZY OSBOURNE
18) The wonder man-STEVIE WONDER
19) Diamond Dave-DAVID LEE ROTH
20) The original human beat box-DOUG E FRESH

― P People, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

The real actual number one greatest nickname was Barry White's The Walrus Of Love.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

it's not an example of tmesis. Tmesis means inserting a word for emphasis, such as in absofuckinglutely

― run it off (run it off), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

those are more titles rather than nicknames, really.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

A cognomen?

"Slowhand" seems like an epithet.

I like the Iceman, Jerry Butler.

― Dickerson Pike (Dickerson Pike), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

The more I think about it, "epithet" has a connotation of description or characterization that makes it particularly appropriate for singers and musicians.

― Dickerson Pike (Dickerson Pike), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

"it's not an example of tmesis." Yes, I know it's not strictly.

― P People, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks Dickerson Pike, "cognomen" might do it. I'm currently writing about the blues tradition of nicknaming, you see.

― P People, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a good topic. Would you mind keeping this thread updated when you find interesting nicknames and obscure derivations, and anything else worthwhile?

― Dickerson Pike (Dickerson Pike), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I really like "epithet".

"Would you mind keeping this thread updated when you find interesting nicknames and obscure derivations, and anything else worthwhile?" Sure, and once my piece is online, I'll link to it on this thread.

― P People, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Crosby's nickname "Bing" grew out of his childhood interest in a
comic strip titled The Bingville Bugle ... There's a teaser (not blues, I know).

― P People, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

How many Sonny Boy Williamsons were there?

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Two, as far as I know.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought there might have been a third.

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

or perhaps an original original.

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

There was John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson first, then some years later a fellow named Rice Miller adopted the stage name "Sonny Boy Williamson". Presumably in a deliberate attempt to confuse the audience of the original (though I'd have to look up the story again.) It's the latter that remains best known today, and who recorded for Chess.

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Albert, BB and Freddie King known collectively as..

― mosh p. tres, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Lazy Susan?

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

uh-uh

as..

― mosh p. tres, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Roland Kirk?

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Earl was no slouch either..

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Earl Hooker?

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Earl King. New Orleans guitarist, author of "Trick Bag", "Come On and Let the Goodtimes Roll", etc.

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

any relation?

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

(I'm just being a shit, sorry)

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think any of the Kings were related, no. Though, John Lee and Earl Hooker WERE related, yes! I can't remember how, though. Like, cousins or second cousins, I believe..

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Albert, BB and Freddie King are known collectively as.. "The Three Kings".

― Mosh P. Tres, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

John Lee and Earl Hooker were cousins, yes - and no, none of the Kings were related to each other nor to Paul, Billy Jean, etc.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Larry.

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

(though chances are fair to even that Larry has at some point been married to someone related to everyone ever)

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

bag o' donuts

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 6 May 2004 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.