Little Willie Littlefield

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Little Willie Littlefield
File:Little Willie Littlefield.jpg
Littlefield performing at Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, France, in 1980
Background information
Birth name Willie Littlefield
Born (1931-09-16)September 16, 1931
El Campo, Texas, United States
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Voorthuizen, Netherlands
Genres R&B, jump blues, boogie-woogie[1]
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments Vocalist, piano
Years active 1949–2013
Labels Eddie's, Modern, Federal, Rhythm, Ace, Oldie Blues

Willie Littlefield, billed as Little Willie Littlefield (September 16, 1931 – June 23, 2013),[2] was an American R&B and boogie-woogie pianist and singer[3] whose early recordings "formed a vital link between boogie-woogie and rock and roll".[3] Littlefield was regarded as a teenage wonder and overnight sensation when in 1949 at the age of 18 he popularised the triplet piano style on his Modern Records debut single "It's Midnight".[4] He also recorded the first version of the song "Kansas City" — originally issued as "K. C. Lovin'" — in 1952.

Career

Early career

Littlefield was born in El Campo, Texas, and grew up in Houston with his mother. By 1947, at the age of sixteen, Littlefield was already a local attraction on many of Houston's Dowling Street clubs and was recording for local record shop proprietor Eddie Henry who ran his own label, "Eddie's".[5] He formed his first band with saxophonist Don Wilkerson, a school friend.[3]

Littlefield was strongly influenced by boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons. A particular favourite of his was Ammons' Swanee River Boogie, which he later recorded for Eddie's Records.[5] Other major influences on Littlefield's style were Texas musicians Charles Brown and Amos Milburn[2] Littlefield learned most of their "chops" and soon developed his own distinctive "triplet style", which, by the early 1950s, was widely copied in the R&B field, particularly by Fats Domino who incorporated it into his successful New Orleans rhythms.[5]

His first recording, "Little Willie’s Boogie" was a hit in Texas in 1949, and brought him to the attention of Jules Bihari, one of the Bihari brothers of Modern Records in Los Angeles, California, who were searching for a performer to rival the success of Amos Milburn.[3] Bihari flew to Houston in July 1949 to investigate the city's black entertainment venues and heard of a "teenage wonder boy pianist" who was causing a stir at the Eldorado Ballroom. Bihari went to hear Littlefield and soon arranged for an audition at a local studio. The session was captured on acetate disc, with Bihari, clearly audible in the background, calling for Littlefield to play the popular R&B tunes of the day.[5]

Success at Modern records

Back at Modern Records, he recorded "It's Midnight", which became a national hit reaching #3 on the Billboard R&B chart. Its follow-up, "Farewell", reached #5 on the R&B chart.[6] He became a major nightclub attraction and recorded with West Coast musicians such as Maxwell Davis. Don Wilkerson, Littlefield's old school buddy and the leading saxman in his band, also travelled to Los Angeles, but Milburn promptly stole him to lead his own new band 'The Aladdin Chickenshackers'.[5]

Modern Records booked Littlefield for three recording sessions during October 1949, followed by more sessions in the following two months at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. During these three months alone, over 22 sides were cut - an unusual output when compared to most other artists who averaged only two sessions a year. Other musicians for these sessions included saxophonists Maxwell Davis and Buddy Floyd, guitarists Chuck Norris and Johnny Moore, and drummers Al Wichard and Jessie Price.[5] One of his 1950 recordings, "Happy Pay Day", a song written by Jack Holmes, was later rewritten by Holmes with entirely different lyrics as "The Blacksmith Blues", which became a hit for Ella Mae Morse.[7]

In 1951, his duet with Little Lora Wiggins, "I've Been Lost", reached #10 on the R&B chart.[6]

In 1952 he moved to the Federal subsidiary of King Records, his first session producing "K. C. Loving", written by Leiber and Stoller and later re-recorded by Wilbert Harrison as "Kansas City".

By 1957 Littlefield had moved to Northern California and continued to record for Don Barksdale's Rhythm label in San Francisco where he produced the single "Ruby, Ruby".[5] Littlefield’s recording and his subsequent releases were not successful, although he remained a popular club act in the San Francisco area.

In the late 1970s he toured Europe successfully, settling in the Netherlands and releasing a number of albums from 1982 into the late 1990s for the Oldie Blues label from Martin van Olderen.[8]

Retirement and comeback

Littlefield in Germany, 2006

After touring for more than 50 years, Littlefield stopped in 2000. After five years of retirement in his adopted home country, the Netherlands, he decided to play again, starting in 2006, declaring: "I went fishing for five years - now I know every herring in Holland by name - it got boring. I feel great and I want to be back with my audience."[9]

In his later years Littlefield continued to perform occasionally, mainly at festivals, particularly in the UK. In 2008 he played at the 20th Burnley Blues Festival and in July 2009 at the 5th annual UK Boogie Woogie Festival at Sturminster Newton in Dorset. Having appeared at Shakedown Blues Club, at Castor Hall, near Castor, Peterborough in 2006, Littlefield made a return appearance in October 2010.[10]

He died at his home in Voorthuizen, Netherlands, in 2013 at the age of 81. He had cancer.[3]

Selected discography

Selected singles

  • 1948 (late) - "Little Willie's Boogie" / "My Best Wishes", Eddie's 1202 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1948 (late) "Medley Boogie", Eddie's Unreleased
  • 1949 (early) - "What's The Use" / "Chicago Bound", Eddie's 1205 (Shellac, 10")
  • c. 3/49 - "Littlefield Boogie" [Flip "Sweet Ole Woman's Blues" is by Goree Carter], Freedom 1502 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1949 "Boogie Woogie Playgirl" / "Swanee River" [piano solo Inst.], Eddie's 1212 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1949 - "Midnight Whistle" / "It's Midnight", Modern 20-686 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1949 - "Drinkin' Hadacol" / "Farewell", Modern 20-709 (Shellac, 10")
  • c. 12/49 - "Come On Baby" / "Merry Christmas", Modern 20-716 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1950 - "The Moon Is Risin'" / "Frightened", Modern 20-726 (Shellac, 10")
  • 3/50 - "Your Love Wasn't So" / "Rocking Chair Mama", Modern 20-729 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1950 - "Tell Me Baby" / "Why Leave Me All Alone",Modern 20-747 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1950 - "Cheerful Baby" / "Happy Pay Day", Modern 20-754 (Shellac, 10")
  • 10/50 - "Trouble Around Me" / "Hit The Road", Modern 20-775 (Shellac, 10")
  • c. 11/50 - "Ain't A Better Story Told" / "You Never Miss A Good Woman Till She's Gone", Modern 20-781 (Shellac, 10")
  • c. 12/50 - "Come On Baby" / "Merry Christmas", Modern 20-785 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1951 - "Once Was Lucky" / "I've Been Lost", Modern 20-801 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1951 - "Lump In My Throat" / "Mean, Mean Woman", Modern 837 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1951 - "Life Of Trouble" / "Too Late For Me", Modern 854 (Shellac, 10")
  • 1952 - "Sticking On You Baby" / "Blood Is Redder Than Wine", Federal 12101 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • c. 11/52 - "K. C. Loving" / "Pleading At Midnight", Federal 12110 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 3/53 - "Turn The Lamps Down Low" [Duet w. Little Esther (Phillips) [Flip is by Little Esther], Federal 12115 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 1953 - "The Midnight Hour Was Shining" / "My Best Wishes And Regards", Federal 12137 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 1953 - "Rock A Bye Baby" / "Miss K. C.'s Fine", Federal 12148 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 1/54 - "Please Don't Go-o-o-o-oh" / "Don't Take My Heart Little Girl", Federal 12163 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 1954 - "Falling Tears" / "Goofy Dust Blues" Federal 12174 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 1955 - "Jim Wilson's Boogie" / "Sitting On The Curbstone", Federal 12221 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 8/57 - "Mistreated" / "Baby Shame", Rhythm 107 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 12/57 - "Ruby-Ruby" [w. Mondellos vocal group] / "Easy Go" [Inst.], Rhythm 108 (Vinyl, 7")
  • 1958 - "Theresa" [w. Female vocal group] / "The Day The Rains Came" [Inst.] Rhythm 124 (Vinyl, 7")
  • 1958 - "Ruby-Ruby" [w. The Mondellos vocal group] / "Easy Go" [Inst.], Bullseye 1005 (Shellac, 10" and Vinyl, 7")
  • 1958 - "I Need A Payday" / "I Want A Little Girl", Rhythm 115 (Vinyl, 7")
  • c. 4/59 - "Kansas City" [K. C. Loving] / "The Midnight Hour Was Shining", Federal 12351 (Vinyl, 7")
  • 1959 - "Goodbye Baby" / "I Wanna Love You", Rhythm 130 (Vinyl, 7")
  • 1960 - "Ruby-Ruby" [w. The Mondellos vocal group] / "Easy Go" [Inst.], Argyle 1013 (Vinyl, 7")
  • 1975 - "Mac's Old House" / "San Jose Express", Blues Connoisseur 1008 (Vinyl, 7")
  • 1976 - "Willie's Blues" / "I'll Tell The World I Do", Blues Connoisseur 1011 (Vinyl, 7")

Albums

  • 1980 - Paris Streetlights - Paris Album PLB 2 28508 (recorded May 14, 1980). Re-issue on CD in 1996 - EPM/Blues Collection, BC 157802[11][12]
  • 1982 - Houseparty - Oldie Blues, OL 8003 (recorded June 1982)
  • 1983 - I'm in the Mood - Oldie Blues, OL 8006 (recorded 1983)
  • 1987 - Plays The Boogie Woogie, Schubert Records, SCH-100 (recorded 1987). Re-issue on CD in 1992 - Munich CMA CM 8013
  • 1990 - Singalong with Little Willie Littlefield - Oldie Blues, OLCD 7001 (recorded 1987)
  • 1992 - ... Goes Rhythm'n Blues - CMA Music, CMA CM 10002
  • 1993 - The Stars Of Rhythm'n Blues! CMA Music, CMA CM 10007
  • 1994 - Yellow Boogie & Blues - Oldie Blues, OLCD 7006 (recorded 1994)
  • 1995 - Going Back To Kay Cee (Federal sides recorded 1952-1954)
  • 1997 - The Red One - Oldie Blues, OLCD 7005 (recorded June 1997)
  • 1999 - Kat On The Keys (Ace CDCHD 736) (Modern recordings from 1949-1951)
  • 2005 - Boogie, Blues and Bounce - The Modern Recordings, Vol. 2
  • 2006 - Little Willie Littlefield Live - Schubert Records, SCH-205 (recorded live in Germany, April 20, 2006)
  • 2008 - Old Time Feeling - Stormy Monday 81242[13]

Selected compilation albums

  • 1977 - K.C. Loving - K.C. 101 (LP)
  • 1980 - Volume 1 - Ace, 10 CH 24 (10"/8 track album)
  • 1981 - Volume 2 - Ace, 10 CH 34 (10"/8 track album)
  • 1984 - Jump With Little Willie Littlefield, Ace, CHD 114
  • 1993 - I'm In The Mood - Oldie Blues, OLCD 7002 (recorded 1982/1983)
  • 1995 - Going Back to Kay Cee - Ace, CDCHD 503
  • 1999 - Kat On The Keys - Ace, CDCHD 736
  • 2005 - Boogie, Blues and Bounce - The Modern Recordings Volume 2 - Ace, CDCHD 1056

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Topping, Ray, Kat On The Keys, liner notes, CDCHD 736 (1999)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Jump with Little Willie Littlefield, Ace Records, CHD114, sleeve notes by Ray Topping, 1984
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Olderen, Martin van, I'm In The Mood, Linernotes OLCD 7002, 1993
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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