Oscar Wills (“TV Slim”) was born in Bethany, Louisiana and Texas, on 10 February, 1916. He had a television repair shop and sang and recorded part time for his own record label, hence his nickname. TV Slim died in Kingman, Arizona on 21 October, 1969 in a car accident while traveling home to Los Angeles after a performance in Chicago.
“Hold me close to your heart”, USA 739, 1962. Released in the UK on Sue ILP 921 “We sing the blues”.
R&B singer, song writer, pianist and harmonica player Willie James Mabon was born in Hollywood, Memphis, Tennessee, on October 24, 1925 and moved to Chicago in 1942 where he began piano lessons, influenced by Roosevelt Sykes and Big Maceo. Already an accomplished musician, he formed a group called The Blues Rockers. In 1949 he began recording for Aristocrat Records (Chess). In 1952 he went solo and his first release as a solo artiste “I don’t know” (Chess 1531, November 1952) went to number one on the R&B charts, where it stayed for eight weeks, giving Chess Records one of their first big successes. He moved to France in 1972 and recorded in Europe as part of the American Blues Legends tours, and recorded other albums. He also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Willie Mabon died after a long illness in Paris, France, on April 19, 1985.
Chicago Reader Pianist Willie Mabon gave Chess Records its’ first big hit
“I’m the fixer”, USA 741, July 1963. “Some more”, USA 759, February 1964. Released in the UK on 3 September 1965 on Sue WI 382. Chart Position: Did not chart.
Blues guitarist and singer J B Lenoir was born in Monticello, Mississsippi on March 5, 1929. His father was also a blues guitarist and introduced him to the songs of Blind Lemon Jefferson. By the early 1940s Lenoir was playing in the bands of Sonny Boy Williamson and Elmore James. By 1951 he was based in Chicago and recording for Chess and other labels. In 1963, Lenoir recorded for USA Records as ‘J. B. Lenoir and his African Hunch Rhythms’, developing an interest in African percussion. In 1965 he toured the UK and Europe. He is remembered also for his zebra skin style stage suit. His songs were overtly political, focusing on war and racism.
J. B. Lenoir died from injuries received in a car crash, in Urbana, Illinois on April 29, 1967.
“I sing um the way I feel”, USA 744, Recorded in Chicago on July 23, 1963, the personnel is understood to be J.B. Lenoir, Donald Hankins, Jarrett Gibson, Lafayette Leake, Willie Smith, “Peeples”, and Willie Dixon. Released on UK Sue WI 339 in January 1965.
Willie Mabon was born on October 24, 1925. He had been one of the legendary Chess label’s first successes in the early 1950s with his cool blues and jazz style. He moved to other record companies, recording in both Chicago and Memphis, but did not achieve the same degree of success.
He died on April 19, 1985 in Paris after a long illness.
“Just got some”, USA 735, 1963. Issued on UK Sue WI 331.
Homesick James, real name thought to be John William Henderson, although he also used the surname Williamson, was born on May 3, 1914 and died on December 13, 2006. He was born in Memphis but moved to Chicago. A maestro of the slide guitar, he played in the band of Elmore James with whom he is alleged to be related.
Singer, song writer, pianist and harmonica player Willie James Mabon was born in Hollywood, Tennessee, on 24 October 1925 and started making rhythm and blues records in the 1950s, recording for Chess and a succession of other record labels.
Willie Mabon died in Paris after a long illness on 19 April 1985 aged 60.
“Got to have some” Formal 1016, 1961. Released on UK Sue WI 320.
The Daylighters. Left to right: Ulysses “Bunky” McDonald, Charles “Chuck” Colbert, Edward “Eddie” Thomas and Tony Gideon. | Public domain | 14499
On this recording the line-up of the Daylighters was Tony Gideon, Eddie Thomas, Charles Colbert Jr., Curtis Burrell And Ulysses McDonald. They were backed on this recording by Gary & The Knight Lites; Charles Colbert joined that group and they were renamed American Breed.
Tony Gideon has contacted us. He formed the Daylighters at Hooper City High School, in Birmingham, Alabama in 1956. He moved to Chicago in 1958. Tony sings on “Oh Mom teach me how to Uncle Willie” which was produced by Edward “Eddie” Thomas, Charles “Chuck” Colbert, Jr. and Tony Gideon for Colbert Productions, Inc. and released on one of their labels: Tip Top Records, before it was leased to a close friend, Juggy Murray, the owner of Sue Records (USA).
I would like to thank Mr Gideon for his invaluable help in compiling this item.
“Oh Mom” was recorded in 1964 and was licenced from Tip Top Records. The song has been covered by other artists including Zoot Money in 1964. Chart position data not available.
Sue Records UK 