Fred Below

Fred Below ( born September 16, 1926 Chicago, Illinois; † August 14, 1988, Chicago, Illinois ) was an American blues musician who played the drums. He is best known for his work as a session musician for Chess Records and the band's drummer from Little Walter in the 1950s.

Life

Playing the drums, he began as a jazz drummer in high school, after he was drafted into the Army, he played in the 427th Army Band, where he played with Lester Young. In 1951 he was discharged from the army and recommended by the former drummer of the Muddy Waters band at the Aces who urgently needed a drummer. The Aces were Junior Wells ( harmonica and vocals) and brothers Louis and Dave Myers. Shortly thereafter, Little Walter left the Muddy Waters band and Junior Wells took his place, while the Aces with Below and to the brethren Myers Walters band were. They were later renamed The Jukes. Your conception of music fit together so well that they were the hottest bands Chicago and a large part of the success is due to the refined and elegant game Belows. In almost all the hits of Little Walter, he could be heard.

In 1955 he left Walter's live band and focused on the work as a session musician for Chess Records. He is on recordings by Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry ( as on the hit single: School Days ), Otis Rush, Elmore James, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Dinah Washington, The Platters, The Moonglows, The Drifters, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Howlin 'Wolf and hear many more.

In the 1970s, Below and the Myers brothers came together again and went on tour in Europe, but in the end they parted again, and went their own ways.

Fred Below died in 1988 in Chicago of cancer

Guest appearances (selection)

1950

1960

1970

1980