Little Willie Littlefield

Little Willie Littlefield ( born September 16, 1931 in El Campo, Texas, † June 23 2013 in the Netherlands) was an American boogie-woogie pianist, singer and songwriter.

Early success

Little is known about Littlefield's childhood and early recording career. He learned piano and guitar under the influence of his Baptist church. He made the first recordings in 1948 for the small R & B label Eddie 's Records in Houston. In August 1949 he was one of the owners of the mighty R & B label Modern Records - Jules Bihari - discovered; this was on the lookout for a talented performers such as Amos Milburn Blue. The first recording session for Modern was still held in Houston, where Littlefield with his friend Don Wilkerson (tenor saxophone) on March 1, 1949 Title Drinkin ' Hardacol recorded. On July 1, 1949 followed Farewell, as the A- side of the single, released in October 1949 (Modern # 709) was used and the same rank five of the Rhythm & Blues charts reached. Shortly thereafter, Littlefield moved to Los Angeles, the site of Modern Records. Here, the more successful Items It 's Midnight who does climbed to third place on the charts after the publication in August 1949,. Within three months came with the backing Jimmy " Maxwell Street" Davis ( sax ), Chuck Norris and Johnny Moore (guitar ) and Al Wichard and Jessie Price (drums ) to December 1949 a total of 22 titles, but more singles from this repertoire did not reach more in the charts. After a total of 13 singles he left Modern Records in 1952 and received a recording contract with the fledgling label Federal Records, a subsidiary label of King Records.

New record label

In Federal it was produced by Ralph Bass. Already from his first recording session was the Leiber / Stoller composed Kansas City show, the producer bass in " KC Loving " renamed because it sounded snappier. The song was recorded on 18 August 1952, # 12110 chart also moderately not perceived after publication on 29 December 1952 as Federal, but years later he developed under the original title Kansas City with over 300 versions to one of the most gecoverten Rock ' n'roll songs. Tremendous visibility hereby reached Wilbert Harrison, whose version of Kansas City in 1959, three million have been sold. On August 18, 1952 three more bodies / Stoller compositions have not been incorporated, namely Pleading At Midnight ( B-side of KC Loving ) and Striking On You Baby / Blood is Redder Than Wine. Ralph Bass, however, did not succeed in Littlefield return to the charts. On October 30, 1953, then scheduled the last recording session for Little Field at Federal Records, emerged from the four titles. The two singles from this pressed remained without response.

Caesura

The health consequences of a serious car accident in 1954 prevented him from performances and recordings. In June 1957, the Don Barksdale published belonging Rhythm Records in San Francisco, a plate from him, but just been unsuccessful as the next four singles. His self-composed single Ruby Baby appears here in November 1957 Since then, Littlefield concentrated on his real strength -. Especially the live performances at music festivals from 1978 in Europe. He received a role in the Australian film Love in Limbo ( Just one Night ), a comedy about love and rock & roll that came to Australia on 20 May 1993 the cinema.

After numerous appearances at various festivals, including at the Montreux Jazz Festival, he presented in 2000 a 5-year creative break. Littlefield last lived in the Netherlands, where he played frequently at the annual International Boogie Woogie Festival Holland, but also toured Germany and Austria, in 2007, with Michael Pewny.

Discography (selection singles, with recording or publication date)

As Willie Littlefield And His Orchestra

Eddie 's Records:

  • Little Willie 's Boogie / My Best Wishes ( # 1202 ), 1948
  • Chicago Bound / What's The Use ( # 1205 ), 1948
  • Boogie Woogie Playgirl / Swanee River ( # 1212 ), 1948

As Little Willie Littlefield

Freedom Records:

Modern Records:

  • It 's Midnight / Midnight Whistle (Instrumental ) (# 20-686 ), August 1949
  • Farewell (July 1, 1949) / Drinkin ' Hadacol (1 March 1949) ( # 20-709 ), October 1949
  • Come On Baby (July 1949) / Merry Xmas ( October 1949 ) (# 20-716 ), November 1949
  • The Moon Is Risin ' ( October 1949 ) / Frightened ( December 1949 ) (# 20-726 ), 1949
  • Your Love Was not So ( November 1949 ) / Rockin 'Chair Mama ( February 1950 ) (# 20-729 ), February 1950
  • Tell Me Baby ( November 1949 ) / Why Leave Me All Alone ( December 1949 ) (# 20-747 ), April 1950
  • Cheerful Baby / Happy Pay Day (June 1950) ( # 20-754 ), 1950
  • Trouble Around Me / Hit The Road ( February 1950 ) (# 20-775 ), October 1950
  • Little Lora Wiggins ( with Little Willie Littlefield piano / vocals): You Never Miss A Good Woman ' Till She's Gone / Is not A Better Story Told ( December 1950 ) (# 20-781 ), 1951
  • I've Been Lost / Once Was Lucky ( February 1950 ) (# 20-801 ), March 1951
  • Lump In My Throat ( Tears In My Eyes ) / Mean Mean Woman (# 837 ), October 1951
  • Life Of Trouble ( November 1950 ) / Too Late For Me (August 1, 1951) ( # 854 ), January 1952

Federal Records:

  • Lil Greenwood: Monday Morning Blues / My Last Hour (# 12082 ), 1952
  • Striking On You Baby / Blood Is Redder Than Wine (18 February 1952) ( # 12101 ), 1952
  • Little Esther with Little Willie: Last Laugh Blues / Flesh, Blood And Bones (# 12108 ), 1952
  • Little Esther with Little Willie: Turn The Lamps Down Low / Hollerin ' And Screamin' (25 July 1952) ( # 12115 ), February 1953
  • The Midnight Hour What Shining / My Best Wishes And Regards (June 9, 1953) ( # 12137 ), 1953
  • Miss KC 's Fine / Rock-A- Bye Baby (June 9, 1953) ( # 12148 ), October 1953
  • ( Please Do not Go ) Ooo -oh / Do not Take My Heart, Little Girl (30 October 1953) ( # 12163 ), 1954
  • Falling Tears / Goofy Dust Blues (30 October 1953) ( # 12174 ), March 1954
  • Jim Wilson Boogie / Sitting On The Curbstone (June 9, 1953) ( # 12221 ), 1954

Rhythm Records:

  • Mistreated / Baby Shame ( # 107), June 1957
  • Ruby Ruby / Easy Go ( Instgrumental ) (# 108), November 1957
  • I Need A Payday / I Want A Little Girl ( # 115 ), 1958
  • Theresa / The Day The Rains Came (# 124 ), 1958
  • Goodbye Baby / I Wanna Love You (# 130 ), 1958

BLUES CONNOISSEUR:

  • Mac's Old House / San Jose Express ( # 1008)
  • Willie 's Blues / I'll Tell The World I Do ( # 1011)
King Records (United States) Integrated Authority File
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