Will Shade

Will Shade ( born February 5, 1898 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, † September 18, 1966 ibid ) was the head of the Memphis Jug Band, the most popular Jug Band was America 1927-1934. Shade had after his grandmother Annie Brimmer, in which he had grown up, the nickname Son Brimmer.

In 1925 he first heard recordings of Dixieland Jug Blowers from Louisville. A little later he founded the Memphis Jug Band, in which he himself played the guitar, harmonica and the Bullfiddle, a self-made one-string bass ton. He was also the lead singer of the band.

After dissolution of the Memphis Jug Band in 1934 Shade continued to play with various jug bands, often together with Charlie Burse. 1956 were rediscovered the two blues researcher Samuel Charters. Before his death appeared the album American skiffle band, with Charlie Burse and Gus Cannon as contributing musicians. 1966 Will Shade died in Memphis of pneumonia.