SHORTY LE BLANC/ Louisiana Swamp Music

SHORTY LE BLANC/ Louisiana Swamp Music

With Jay Stutes & Cleveland Crochet

           

In 1960, Sugar bee recorded in Lake Charles by the locally renowned Cajun band of ace musicians: fiddler and leader Cleveland Crochet, accordionist Shorty Le Blanc, steel guitarist Jay B. Stutes, bass player Charlie Babineaux and drummer Clifton Newman climbed extremely high in the Charts, certainly the first major "hit" coming from Cajun country since "Jolie Blonde" and probably the first by a Cajun band itself. Under the wise direction of producer Eddie Shuler (he asked the band to sing in english for a possible wider appeal), the band proved able to keep the deep feeling of Cajun Music while adding a Rock'n'roll backbeat, a driving steel-guitar lead and accordion solos sounding like a blues harmonica plus devastating vocal by Stutes.

            As Shuler told to author John Broven: " During the session... the wailing sounds (that blasted) over the speakers told me the record was chartbound ".

            At first, the local radio stations didn't want to airplay Sugar bee. " I had all kinds of trouble trying to some airplay... I took it to the stations in Lafayette and Baton Rouge but they said it didn't have the right sound... it wasn't Cajun! In desperation I took it to Beaumont where I hoped KJET, a colored station would help with Clarence Garlow as the DJ... the result was like a snowball going down a mountain. It just got bigger and bigger... ".

            In the british pioneer blues magazine Blues Unlimited, Mike Leadbitter wrote in April 1963 a rave review of the record: " Singer is a guy named Jay Stutes whose hysterical shouting vocals and powerful steel guitar make this Cajun-cum-R&B disc into a masterful solo performance. The roaring accordion backing is by Shorty Le Blanc "

           

Vorris "Shorty" Le Blanc was born 24 December 1923 in Lake Arthur (La) from a large family of nine children, almost all playing an instrument. The father Jules Le Blanc was a noted accordionist who played regularly on fais do-do (literally "go to sleep" because the large dance floors had an upper room where the children were sleeping, watched by their grandmothers while the parents danced and drank all night) and brought Vorris with him at an early age. After discharged from the Army during the war years, Shorty Le Blanc married Ruby McGee and worked as a machine shop worker while fronting several bands. Sugar bee made it possible for Le Blanc to make a living from his music a couple of years, recording under his name or as a backing musician for Country stars like Jimmy C. Newman. Unfortunately, Shorty Le Blanc died from cancer on 25 May 1965 at the early age of 42.

            The great singer and steel guitarist, occasionally drummer and bassist Jay Stutes (Jesse Llyod Stutes Sr) was born on 7 September 1933 in Morse (La) and was most of his life a truck driver while playing during week ends. His fiercery vocals and stinging steel guitar must be largely credited to the artistically and commercially success of Sugar bee and most of the tracks he recorded with Crochet, Shorty Le Blanc or under his name. During the 1970's he joined Blackie Forester and the Cajun Aces and recorded with Joel Sonnier. He died in Jennings, La. on 19 May 2000.

           

Fiddler and bandleader Cleveland Crochet was born on 30 January 1919 in Jennings, La but moved to Lake Charles at an early age. He made a living as an ironworker playing music during the week ends. He was the leader of The Hillbilly Ramblers when they recorded Sugar bee for Eddie Shuler. He recorded again during the 1960's but played mostly on local clubs or fais do do. He died in Lake Charles on 28 November 2011.

                                                           Gérard Herzhaft

A lot of thanks to Shorty Le Blanc's grandchild for his help.

I borrowed many infos for this article from the essential John Broven's book South to Louisiana/ The Music of the Cajun Bayous.

 Shorty Le Blanc (Vorris Leblanc), vcl/acc; Cleveland Crochet, fdl; Jay Stutes, st-g; Charlie Babineaux, g; Clifton Newman, dms. Lake Charles, La. 1957

01. Chere meon (Sha meon waltz)

02. Midnight blues

03. Come back little girl (vcl: Jay Stutes)

04. Telephone Port Arthur (vcl: Jay Stutes)

Shorty Le Blanc, acc; Cleveland Crochet, fdl; Jay Stutes, st-g; S.J. Barrios, g; Bradley Stutes, bs; Clifton Newman, dms. Lake Charles, La. octobre 1960

05. Sugar bee n°1 (vcl: Jay Stutes)

06. Sugar bee n°2 (vcl: Jay Stutes)

07. Drunkard's dream

Shorty Le Blanc, vcl/acc; Cleveland Crochet, fdl; Jay Stutes, st-g; S.J. Barrios, g; Bradley Stutes, bs; Clifton Newman, dms. Lake Charles, La. 1961

08. Sweet thing (vcl: Jay Stutes)

09. Hound dog baby

Shorty Le Blanc, vcl/acc; Cleveland Crochet, fdl; Jay Stutes, st-g; S.J. Barrios, g; Bradley Stutes, bs; Clifton Newman, dms. Lake Charles, La. mai 1962

10. Kaw Liga (vcl: Jay Stutes)

11. Soldier's waltz

12. Long long note on my door (vcl: Jay Stutes)

13. Demain, moi je vais me marier (Wedding day) (vcl: Jay Stutes)

14. La branche de mûrier (Waltz of the mulberry limb)

15. Coming home (vcl: Jay Stutes)

Shorty Le Blanc, vcl/acc; Cleveland Crochet, fdl; Jay Stutes, st-g; S.J. Barrios, g; Bradley Stutes, bs; Clifton Newman, dms. Lake Charles, La. juin 1963

16. Boss Cajun

17. La valse de chagrin

18. Waltz of a broken heart

Shorty Le Blanc, acc; Cleveland Crochet, fdl; Jay Stutes, st-g; Ivt Vanicor, g; Bradley Stutes, bs; Clifton Newman, dms. Lake Charles, La. 1964

19. My little cabbage

20. Good morning blues (vcl: Jay Stutes)

21. Time and time again (vcl: Jay Stutes)

22. Forgot I was married (vcl: Ivy Vanicor)

23. Three year waltz (vcl: Ivy Vanicor)

24. Rambler's lonely dream (vcl: Ivy Vanicor)

25. Tears of sorrow (vcl: Bradley Stutes)

Jay Stutes, vcl/st-g; band. Lake Charles, La. 1979

26. Hey! Boss man

LONNIE BROOKS/ From Guitar Jr to Lonnie Brooks

FROM GUITAR Jr TO LONNIE BROOKS

FROM GUITAR JUNIOR TO LONNIE BROOKS

            Comme Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks est né en Louisiane, a été très influencé par Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones) avant de monter à Chicago et y devenir un artiste important du Chicago blues. Mais, à la différence de Buddy Guy, Brooks a, lui, substantiellement enregistré en Louisiane avant de recommencer une carrière différente à Chicago, changeant de pseudonyme au passage.

            En fait, tout commence avec Lee Baker Jr qui naît à Dubuisson (La), une bourgade très proche de Ville Platte, le 18 décembre 1933. Son père, banjoïste à ses heures, lui inculque l'amour de la musique et le jeune Lee écoute les musiques jouées autour de lui: Cajun, Jazz, Pop... Comme beaucoup, il quitte la ferme familiale à l'adolescence pour tenter sa chance dans le grand port du Golfe du Mexique, Port Arthur. La grande vedette du début des années 50 dans cette région est le guitariste et chanteur Guitar Slim (auteur de l'immortel Things I used to do) qui marque autant par ses talents de guitariste électrique torride, son chant passionné que par son jeu de scène. C'est totalement sous l'influence de Guitar Slim que Lee Baker apprend la guitare, se met à chanter et fait quelques remplacements dans divers orchestres locaux dont celui de Clifton Chenier.

            Mais c'est l'avisé producteur Eddie Shuler qui repère le jeune Lee Baker Jr, séduit par sa capacité à imiter Guitar Slim à la perfection. Il rebaptise son protégé Guitar Jr afin que nul ne puisse se tromper sur la filiation assumée et volontaire et l'enregistre pour son label Goldband dans le style néo-orléanais de son idole dès 1957. Le succès est au rendez-vous avec Family Rules et The crawl, devenus des classiques louisianais entre blues et Swamp Pop. Guitar Jr fait aussi des progrès très rapides à la guitare et à la mort de Guitar Slim en 1959, il décide de donner un autre tournant à sa carrière. Il quitte la Louisiane qu'il pense trop fermée et part s'installer à Chicago où d'autres Guitar Jr existent déjà. Lee Baker Jr aka Guitar Junior devient alors Lonnie Brooks, un patronyme venu de la famille de sa mère.

            La mutation à Chicago se fait difficilement et Lonnie Brooks doit substantiellement adapter son style de chant et de guitare aux canons en vigueur aux bords du Lac Michigan. Mais là aussi comme son compatriote Buddy Guy, il conservera toujours nombre de traits musicaux et scéniques de Guitar Slim.

            Pendant un temps, Lonnie Brooks végète dans les petits clubs, accompagne Jimmy Reed, enregistre quelques 45t pour différents petits labels qui sont aujourd'hui difficiles à trouver. En 1969, lors d'une tournée en Californie, le label Capitol où travaille Wayne Shuler (le fils d'Eddie) lui fait enregistrer son premier album (Broke & Hungry) sous le nom de Guitar Jr et dans le pur style louisianais des productions Goldband. Le LP de bonne facture se vend très mal et notre bluesman retourne à Chicago et conservera désormais le nom de Lonnie Brooks.

            Quelques années plus tard, l'excellente série Living Chicago blues du label Alligator révèlera vraiment Lonnie Brooks qui, en quelques disques, s'imposera comme un des principaux talents du nouveau Chicago blues teinté de Soul et de Funk avec, chez Brooks, de très fortes réminiscences de Guitar Slim.

            Nous avons regroupé ici la quasi-totalité des titres que Lee Baker/ Guitar Jr/ Lonnie Brooks a enregistrés entre 1957 et 1969 et qui permettent de voir un artiste qui se cherche, forge progressivement son style qui puise à différents terreaux. Une fois encore merci à Hartmut Münnich et Benoit Blue Boy pour le prêt de leurs rares 45t.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

Like Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks was born in Louisiana, was also strongly influenced by Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones from Things I used to do fame), and also transplanted this very Louisiana style in Chicago.

            But unlike Buddy Guy, Lonnie recorded several records and at least two hits in his native state before moving to Chicago.

            Born Lee Baker Jr (on 18 December 1933 in Dubuisson, near Ville Platte) from a farming family with a banjo playing father, the young man went to the burgeoning Port Arthur on the Gulf Coast in the early 50's to make a better living. The big name of the era and the whole South West was Guitar Slim whose incendiary guitar playing, scorching vocals and stage histrionics persuaded Lee Baker to learn guitar and try his luck as a musician in the very style of his idol. After some local gigs and a short stint with Clifton Chenier, the young man was really discovered by Eddie Shuler, head of Goldband Records. Eddie renamed Lee Baker as Guitar Jr, featured him as a rival of Guitar Slim and recorded him in 1957 in a Louisiana bluesy Swamp Pop style. Family rules and The crawl were local hits and soon Guitar Jr toured the South, becoming quickly a very good guitar player on his own while retaining a strong influence of Guitar Slim.

            At the untimely death of Slim, Guitar Jr who was on tour with Sam Cooke, decided to quit Louisiana and Goldband altogether to try to launch a wider career in Chicago. But the times were hard in the Windy City and nobody was really waiting for a newcomer from the South West who was there largely unknown. As there were already several Guitar Jr playing the blues in Chicago, Lee Baker took the name of Lonnie Brooks, apparently from his mother's family.

            Lonnie played and recorded with Jimmy Reed and, during the 60's, went into the studios for several labels (mostly small ones), waxing some hard to find tracks. In 1969, while on tour in California, Lonnie was recorded by Capitol whose producer Wayne Shuler (the son of Eddie) knew him of course from his Louisiana days. For his first album (Broke &Hungry)  he took again the Guitar Jr moniker and the Louisiana style. But the album went nowhere and our man was soon back in Chicago, this time as Lonnie Brooks for good.

            Some years later, Alligator's Bruce Iglauer gave him his real start featuring him on his magnificent Living Chicago Blues series. With subsequent albums for the label, Brooks was finally recognized as one of the leading name of a new kind of Modern Chicago blues, mixing Soul, blues and, of course in the case of our man, still a strong influence of Guitar Slim.

            This .mp3 collection gathers most of his early recordings. Once again, many thanks to Hartmut Münnich and Benoit Blue Boy for the generous share of their collections.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

 

New Links/ cf Comments

LONNIE BROOKS

Complete Early Recordings

Lonnie Brooks (Lee Baker Jr or Guitar Jr) vcl/g; Clarence Garlow, g; Danny George, t-sax; Leroy James, a-sax; Joe Joseph, pno; Willie Chiasson, bs; Little Brother Griffin, dms. Lake Charles, La. 1957

01. I got it made

02. Family rules

03. Roll roll roll

04. Broken hearted rollin' tears

Lonnie Brooks , vcl/g; , vcl/g; similar band. Lake Charles, La. 1958

05. The crawl

06. Now you know

07. Going crazy baby

08. Tell me baby

Lonnie Brooks , vcl/g; , vcl/g; Danny George, t-sax; Leroy James, a-sax; Joe Joseph, pno; Willie Chiasson, bs; Little Brother Griffin, dms. Lake Charles, La. 1959

09. Pick me up on your way down

10. Get it

11. Please

12. Love me love me Mary Ann

13. Ooh Wee baby

Lonnie Brooks , vcl/g; , vcl/g; Leroy James, t-sax; Katie Webster, og; Sid Lawrence, bs; Little Brother Griffin, dms. Lake Charles, La. 19 janvier 1960

14. Love me love me

15. Knocks me out

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Lefty Bates, g; bs: dms. Chicago, Ill. 11 mai 1960

16. All of my life

17. The hoss

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; og; bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. 1 novembre 1962

18. Mr Hot Shot

19. The popeye

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Billy Emerson, og; King Edward, g; Nolan Struck, bs; Jerome Price, dms. Chicago, Ill. 1964

20. I'm not going home

21. Figure head

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Detroit Jr, pno; Nolan Struck, bs; Jerome Price, dms. Chicago, Ill. 1965

22. The train

23. The frog

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Joe Evans, flt/t-sax; Detroit Jr, pno/og; Pete Randolph, bs; Harold Tidwell, dms. Chicago, Ill. 1967

24. Demonstrating (Let it all hang out)

25. One sunny day

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill. 1967

26. Good soul lovin

27. Soul meeting

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Harmonica Fats, hca; Don Randi, pno; Don Peake, g; Lyle Ritz, bs; Paul Humphrey, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 6-8 octobre 1969

28. Things I used to do

29. Go to the Mardi Gras

30. Texas Flood

31. Tom Cat blues

32. Rooster blues

33. The train and the horse

34. Broke & hungry

35. When there's no way out

36. Dont touch me baby

37. Bed bug blues

38. Wee wee hours

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Willie Mabon, pno; Hubert Sumlin, g; Little Mack Simmons, hca; Dave Myers, bs; Fred Below, dms. Paris, Fr. décembre 1974

39. Big leg woman

40. Crazy about my baby

41. Crosscut saw

42. Reconsider baby

43. Sweet home Chicago

44. The train and the horse

45. Two guitars shuffle

46. Mama talk to your daughter

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Bob Levis, g; Rob Waters, pno; Harlan Terson, bs; Robert Taylor Layton, dms. Chicago, Ill. 24 mars 1977

47. Let's talk it over

48. Hard gamblin' woman

49. Crash head on into love

50. If you want me to love you

51. Reconsider baby

52. Greasy man

Lonnie Brooks, vcl/g; Bob Levis, g; Rob Waters, pno; Harlan Terson, bs; Casey Jones, dms. Chicago, Ill. avril 1978

53. Don't answer the door

54. Two headed man

55. Cold lonely nights

56. Move over little dog

Benoit Blue Boy qui connaît particulièrement les productions Goldband nous apporte ses corrections et amendements à cette discographie:
" Il y a 3 versions de Goin' Crazy dont une qui a été nommée "Oo Wee Baby". Ces titres on eté retouvés au studio Golband en 1982 mais c'est le meme morceau ,meme seance.

Family Rules  (enregistré fin 1956) a été un hit en Louisiane & East Texas en 1957

Tous les titres Goldband datent de 1956 - 59 &  les Mercury datent d'une seule seance a Chicago  1960 ". 

There is some confusion on the 1957-59 Goldband's recording dates. Benoit Blue Boy who knows very well the Goldband sessions gives very different dates and even titles with three versions of Goin' Crazy (one named Oo Wee baby). Family rules would have been recorded in 1956. All the Goldband sides were recorded between 1956 and 1959.

NEW ORLEANS BLUES/ Volume 1

NEW ORLEANS BLUES/ Volume 1

         

This new series is dedicated to some not very well known blues singers from or related to the Crescent City but who have nevertheless recorded some very fine music.

            Chubby Newsome (or Newsom) was born Velma Williams (and not Velma Nelson as some sources wrongly write Velma Nelson is a different artist from Los Angeles) on 27 January 1920 in Wilburton (Ok). She started singing in Detroit with the King Allen and His Royal Sultans' band and after the war under the nickname "Chubby" (probably for her curvy figures) Newsome or even "The Bombshell of Blues" in many Detroit R&B clubs, including the Club Sensation. She then toured a lot around the States, appearing in clubs and concert halls in New York, Buffalo, Dayton, Cincinnati, Memphis and such... She relocated herself in New Orleans in 1948, her acts being celebrated by The Louisiana Weekly (2 October 1948) as "Chubby Newsome Motor City Rage now in Dew Drop Show"! During her stay at the Dew Drop Inn, Chubby was noticed by pianist/bandleader Paul Gayten who brought her at Cossimo Matassa's studio for her very first recording session that gave the hit

Hipshaking mama which climbed to the Top 10 in New Orleans, Washington DC and Atlanta. The following years saw Chubby Newsome touring the country (up to appearing at the Apollo Theatre alongside Wynonie Harris) and recording constantly either in New York or in New Orleans where she was, by far, one of the most sought after act. Around 1953, she teamed with Detroit singer Alberta Adams, launching a comedy act under the name The Bluezettes. She recorded a last session in 1957 in New York, still appearing at the Apollo during this time. During the early 60's, she dropped the exhausting life of a touring artist and stayed in her Detroit home, singing only sporadically in local clubs before relocating herself in Kansas City around 1983. She died there, largely forgotten by the blues world, on 12 September 2003. Her obituary in the Kansas City Star didn't even mention her former big success as a R&B singer.

           

Diamond Joe is generally more considered as a Soul singer but most of his records are largely blues oriented. He was born Joseph Maryland in 1936 at Houma (Terrebone Parrish, Louisiana). His whereabouts and life are largely undocumented although we know that he was a US Air Force veteran and that he recorded a string of very fine 45s in New Orleans during the 1960's, produced by Allen Toussaint who is certainly present on all his sessions. He drifted into utter obscurity after that, being reported living without incomes among his family in Houma where he died September 2, 2010.

            And then the mysterious Sweet Daddy Reed (James Reed Jr) could be, as some has written, Louisiana singer Dalton Reed who recorded a couple of very fine albums for the Rounder label during the early 1990's. This Reed died of a heart attack on 23 September 1994. But at that time, the very identity of Sweet Daddy Reed remains questionable. Here is anyway this quite rare 45s.

                                                           Gérard HERZHAFT

Thanks a lot to Marv Goldberg (from whom I picked most of the Chubby Newsome's bio details) and Fonsoul who posted the rare Sweet Daddy Reed 45 on his first rate YouTube channel.

CHUBBY NEWSOME (Velma Williams), vcl; Wallace Davenport, tpt; Lee Allen, t-sax; Frank Campbell, b-sax; Paul Gayten, pno; Jack Scott, g; George Pryor, bs; Robert Green, dms. New Orleans, La. November 1948

01. Hip shakin' mama

02. Chubby's confession

03. Back bitin' woman

04. Bedroom blues

Chubby Newsome, vcl; Dave Bartholomew, tpt; Joe Harris, a-sax; Herb Hardesty, t-sax; Salvador Doucette, g; Ernest Mc Lean, g; Frank Fields, bs; Earl Palmer, dms. New Orleans, La. January 1949

05. Close to train time

06. New Orleans lover man

Chubby Newsome, vcl; tpt; saxes; Howard Biggs, pno; Gene Ramey, bs; Jo Jones, dms. New York City, 19 December 1949

07. You better find a job

08. Hard loving mama

09. Please throw this poor dog a bone

10. I'm still in love with you

Chubby Newsome, vcl; horns; Howard Biggs, pno; Gene Ramey, bs; Al Taylor, dms. New York City, 23 February 1951

11. Where's the money honey?

12. Little fat woman with the coconut head

Chubby Newsome, vcl; Paul Gayten, pno; John Hunt, tpt; Sam Butera, t-sax; Pee Wee Moore, b-sax; Thomas Legaye, bs; Wesley Landers, dms. New Orleans, La. 15 April 1951

13. Hip shakin' mama blues

14. He may be your man

Chubby Newsome, vcl; Baby Cortez, pno; band. New York City, 1957

15. Toodle luddle baby

16. When are you coming home?

DIAMOND JOE (Joe Maryland), vcl; Allen Toussaint, kbds; band. New Orleans, La. 2 February 1961

17. Moanin' and screamin' I & II

Diamond Joe, vcl; band. New Orleans, La. 10 octobre 1961

You're gonna cry

Diamond Joe, vcl; Allen Toussaint, kbds; band. New Orleans, La. 3 January 1962

18. Help yourself

19. Fair play

Diamond Joe, vcl; Allen Toussaint, kbds; band. New Orleans, La. 1965

20. Too many pots

21. If I say goodbye

Diamond Joe, vcl; Allen Toussaint, kbds; band. New Orleans, La. 1966

22. How to pick a winner

23. Wait a minute baby

24. Hurry back to me

25. Don't set me back

Diamond Joe, vcl; Allen Toussaint, kbds; band. New Orleans, La. 1967

26. Gossip gossip

27. It doesn't matter anymore

Diamond Joe, vcl; Allen Toussaint, kbds; band. New Orleans, La. 1968

28. The ABC song

29. Look way back

SWEET DADDY REED (James Reed Jr), vcl; Rodger Lewis, t-sax; The Desert Tones, band. New Orleans, La. 1969

30. Reconsider blues

31. I believe to my soul

WILLIE WILLIAMS/ Complete Recordings (Re-up)

WILLIE WILLIAMS

"I am the best blues drummer"

Completed, Amended And Revised

            Willie Williams est un des ces soutiers du Chicago blues qui a hanté les clubs plusieurs décennies durant, enregistré une poignée de 45t, quelques bribes d'albums et apporté sa modeste mais non négligeable pierre au bel et vaste édifice du blues de la Windy City.

            En 1970, Willie Williams a eu un étonnant succès commercial national avec Wine headed woman, un 45t produit par Willie Dixon. Il a tenté deux ou trois fois de capitaliser sur ce succès. En vain.

            Willie Williams est né le 13 mars 1922 à Lake Village dans l'Arkansas. Il apprend la guitare avec des voisins et les claquettes avec son oncle, "Batman" Williams et commence une carrière de musicien et surtout de danseur au milieu des années 30 sous le surnom de "Fast feet". Après avoir été réformé, il gagne Saint Louis en 1943, apprend la batterie et forme son premier orchestre de blues. Vers 1950, il vient s'installer à Chicago et s'insère sans peine dans l'importante scène du blues. Il joue de la batterie dans de nombreux orchestres, en particulier celui de Howlin' Wolf qu'il accompagne souvent en tournée. C'est en imitant son patron que Willie attire l'attention de Dixon qui le prend dans sa nouvelle maison de production Yambo et essaie de le promouvoir.

            Après le succès inattendu de Wine headed woman, Dixon enregistre plusieurs séances avec Williams qu'il entoure de certains des meilleurs musiciens de Chicago, notamment bien sûr Hubert Sumlin afin de pousser encore plus la ressemblance avec Howlin' Wolf. Ces titres paraîtront sur un de ses labels maison Supreme Records, un LP, Raw unpolluted soul qui, non distribué en dehors de Chicago, ne dépassera malheureusement pas le cercle très restreint des amateurs de blues.

            Malgré des titres aussi bizarres qu'accrocheurs (Muhammad Ali's soul dance) (!!) et le renfort bienvenu de Sonny Wash, un chanteur au timbre plus mélodieux, les 45t suivants ne se vendent pas davantage et bientôt Willie Williams, vedette d'un seul "hit", retrouve l'anonymat des clubs de Chicago. Associé à Carey Bell, il se présente sous le qualificatif de "Best blues drummer in the world" et enregistre encore quelques titres pour Ralph Bass en 1977, demeurés inédits à l'époque mais réunis quelques années plus tard dans la série I didn't give a damn if the Whites bought it.

            Son décès le 8 décembre 1988 à Chicago est à peine signalé dans les revues spécialisées.

            Il laisse une petite oeuvre, aussi rare qu'intéressante, que nous avons regroupée en illustration à cet article en essayant de clarifier un peu sa discographie quelque peu malmenée jusqu'à présent.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

Tous nos remerciements à Ransom, Hans E, Robert Ford et Marc Claes pour leur aide avisée.

Willie Williams is one of those obscure name who haunted the Chicago clubs for decades and was well known among his fellow musicians.

Born march 13 1922 in Lake Village (Arkansas), Willie Williams learned music under the tutelage of one of his uncle, toured with a medicine show at an early age and finally settled in Saint Louis (Mo) in 1943. By now a drummer he formed a local band before moving to Chicago in 1950. He quickly made a reputation as a good, swinging and reliable drummer and played with numerous bands including Howlin' Wolf's. He started to emulate his boss's voice with some success. Willie Dixon who had left Chess to create his own labels, took Willie under his wing. Wine headed woman with a first class blues band (Sumlin, Bobby King, Little Mack) was a surprising down home hit in 1970 that led Willie Williams to record again several sessions. But, despite the help of the soulful singing of Sonny Wash, Those records went nowhere. Willie recorded another sessions with Carey Bell and then drifted into obscurity.

His death december 8th 1988 in Chicago went unnoticed.

Nevertheless he left us a small but rewarding blues legacy that we have gathered.

For years, Williams' discography was quite confused. With the help of Ramson, Hans E., Robert Ford and Marc Claes we have tried to put sessions in proper order with the adequate personnel.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

WILLIE WILLIAMS/ COMPLETE RECORDINGS

Willie Williams, vcl/dms; Hubert Sumlin, g; Eddie Taylor, g; Little Johnny Jones, pno; Joe Harper, bs. Chicago, Ill. 1963

01. Deep shuffle

Deep Shuffle is in fact the backing track of Rough dried woman by Big Mac (William Mc Neal)!

Willie Williams, vcl; Hubert Sumlin, g; Bobby King, g; Little Mack, hca; Odell Campbell, bs; Fred Below, dms. Chicago, décembre 1970

02. Wine headed woman

03. Back to Mississippi

04. My baby's gone

05. Black diamond rattler

06. In the valley

Willie Williams, vcl/dms; Hubert Sumlin, g; Bobby King, g; Carey Bell, hca; Joe Harper, bs. Chicago, Ill. 1971

07. Blues at half past twelve

08. Detroit blues

09. Hot pants woman I & II

Willie Williams, vcl/dms; Carey Bell, hca; Eddie Taylor, g; Royal Johnson, g; Sunnyland Slim, pno; Joe Harper, bs. Chicago, Ill. décembre 1971

10. Ruthie baby

11. 38 woman

12. My baby don't change the lock on my door

Willie Williams, dms/vcl on *; Sonny Wash, vcl; James Scott, g; Odell Campbell, bs. Chicago, Ill. 1971

13. Funky Broadway

14. Don't lie to me lover

15. Muhammad Ali's soul dance

16. Mississippi roundhouse Part 1

17. Down home blues*

Willie Williams, vcl/dms; Carey Bell, hca; Sunnyland Slim, pno; Lacy Gibson, g; Willie Black, bs. Chicago, Ill. 17 mars 1977

18. You went away baby

19. You got to give me some

20. Help me

21. Tired of being dogged around

22. Alcoholic man

23. Showing off my car

Robert Ford gave the info that Jim O'Neal says the Henvick, Little Lynn, Big Beat session was recorded in Amarillo, Texas (according to Willie). Ruthie Baby and 38 Woman were apparently recorded in 1970 (probably together with 'Somebody Changed the Lock'?) .