Little Willie John
| Little Willie John | |
|---|---|
 Little Willie John circa 1955 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Edward John |
| Born |
November 15, 1937 Cullendale, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died |
May 26, 1968 (aged 30) Walla Walla, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, doo-wop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1955–1966 |
| Labels | King Records |
William Edward "Little Willie" John (November 15, 1937 – May 26, 1968)[1] was an American rock 'n' roll and R&B singer who performed in the 1950s and early 1960s. He is best known for his popular music chart successes with songs such as "All Around the World" (1955), "Need Your Love So Bad" (1956), and "Fever" (1956), the latter covered in 1958 by Peggy Lee.[2] An important figure in early R&B music, John was a 1996 Inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Biography
He was born in Cullendale, Arkansas, one of ten children born to Lillie (née Robinson) and Mertis John.[3] Many sources erroneously give his middle name as Edgar.[4] His family moved to Detroit, Michigan when he was four, so that his father could pursue factory work. In the late 1940s, the eldest children, including Willie, formed a gospel singing group, and Willie also performed in talent shows, which brought him to the notice of Johnny Otis and, later, musician and producer Henry Glover. After seeing him sing with the Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams orchestra, Glover signed him to a recording contract with King Records in 1955. He was nicknamed "Little Willie" John for his short stature.[5]
His first recording, a version of Titus Turner's "All Around the World", was a hit, reaching # 5 on the Billboard R&B chart. He followed up with a string of R&B hits, including the original version of "Need Your Love So Bad", written by his elder brother Mertis John Jr. One of his biggest hits, "Fever" (1956) (Pop #24 & R&B #1), was more famously covered by Peggy Lee in 1958. However, John's version alone sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[6] Another song, "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" recorded in 1958, reached #5 in the R&B chart and #20 in the Pop chart, and also sold over one million.[7][8] A few years later it was a hit once again by Sunny & the Sunglows. He also recorded "I'm Shakin'" by Rudy Toombs,[9] "Suffering With The Blues", and "Sleep" (1960) (Pop #13).[7] In all, John made the Billboard Hot 100 a total of fourteen times. A cover version of "Need Your Love So Bad" by Fleetwood Mac was also a hit in Europe. Another of his songs to be covered was "Leave My Kitten Alone", (1959). The Beatles recorded a version in 1964, intended for their Beatles for Sale album, but it went unreleased until 1995.
Willie John was known for his short temper and propensity to abuse alcohol, and was dropped by his record company in 1963.[5] In 1966, he was convicted of manslaughter and sent to Washington State Penitentiary for a fatal knifing incident following a show in Seattle. He appealed his conviction and was released while the case was reconsidered, during which time he recorded what was intended to be his comeback album, but owing to contractual wrangling and the decline of his appeal, it was not released until 2008 (as Nineteen Sixty Six).[10] Little Willie John died in 1968 at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington. Despite counterclaims (Rolling Stone reported that the death occurred after John had checked into the prison hospital with pneumonia[11]), the official cause of death was listed in his death certificate as a heart attack.[4]
His interment was in Warren, Michigan's Detroit Memorial Park East.
Little Willie John was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
He was the brother of singer Mable John, who recorded for Motown and Stax and was member of Ray Charles's Raelettes. His son Keith John is a backing vocalist for Stevie Wonder.[9]
James Brown, who early in his career had opened shows for John, recorded a tribute album, Thinking about Little Willie John... and a Few Nice Things.
Robbie Robertson, former lead guitarist for The Band, referenced John in a song on his 1987 self-titled album titled "Somewhere Down the Crazy River." He was also referenced in Tom Russell's "Blue Wing" and Mark Lanegan's "Like Little Willie John" from his 2004 album "Bubblegum." In 1991, the Swedish Artist Peter Le Marc recorded a song called "Little Willie John".
A biography, Fever: Little Willie John; A Fast Life, Mysterious Death and the Birth of Soul, written by Susan Whitall with Kevin John (another son of Little Willie John) was released in 2011 by Titan Books.
Singles discography
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Label & Cat. No. |
U.S. R&B[12] | U.S. Pop[13] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | "All Around The World" b/w "Don't Leave Me Dear" (from Mister Little Willie John) |
King 4818 | |
|
Fever |
| 1956 | "Need Your Love So Bad" / | King 4841 | |
| |
| "Home At Last" | |
|
Mister Little Willie John | ||
| "Are You Ever Coming Back" b/w "I'm Stickin' With You Baby" (from Fever) |
King 4893 | |
| ||
| "Fever" / | King 4935 | |
|
Fever | |
| "Letter From My Darling" | |
| |||
| "Do Something For Me" b/w "My Nerves" |
King 4960 | |
| ||
| "Will The Sun Shine Tomorrow" b/w "A Little Bit Of Loving" |
King 5003 | |
|
Mister Little Willie John | |
| 1957 | "Love, Life and Money" b/w "You Got To Get Up Early In The Morning" (from Mister Little Willie John) |
King 5023 | |
|
Fever |
| "I've Got To Go Cry" b/w "Look What You've Done To Me" (from Mister Little Willie John) |
King 5045 | |
| ||
| "Young Girl" b/w "If I Thought You Needed Me" (from Talk To Me) |
King 5066 | |
| ||
| "Dinner Date" b/w "Uh Uh Baby (No No Baby)" (from Talk To Me) |
King 5083 | |
| ||
| "Person To Person" b/w "Until You Do" |
King 5091 | |
|
Talk To Me | |
| 1958 | "Talk To Me, Talk To Me" b/w "Spasms" (from Mister Little Willie John) |
King 5108 | |
| |
| "You're A Sweetheart" b/w "Let's Rock While The Rockin's Good" |
King 5142 | |
|
Mister Little Willie John | |
| "Tell It Like It Is" b/w "Don't Be Ashamed To Call My Name" |
King 5147 | |
|
Talk To Me | |
| "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me" b/w "All My Love Belongs To You" |
King 5154 | |
|
Mister Little Willie John | |
| "No Regrets" b/w "I'll Carry Your Love Wherever I Go" (from Talk To Me) |
King 5170 | |
|
In Action | |
| 1959 | "Made For Me" b/w "No More In Life" (from Talk To Me) |
King 5179 | |
| |
| "Leave My Kitten Alone" b/w "Let Nobody Love You" |
King 5219 | |
| ||
| "Let Them Talk" b/w "Right There" |
King 5274 | |
| ||
| 1960 | "Loving Care" b/w "My Love Is" |
King 5318 | |
|
Sure Things |
| "A Cottage For Sale" b/w "I'm Shakin'" |
King 5342 | |
| ||
| "Heartbreak (It's Hurtin' Me)" b/w "Do You Love Me" (from In Action) |
King 5356 | |
| ||
| "Sleep" b/w "There's A Difference" |
King 5394 | |
| ||
| 1961 | "Walk Slow" b/w "You Hurt Me" |
King 5428 | |
| |
| "Leave My Kitten Alone" b/w "I'll Never Go Back On My Word" A-side chart reentry |
King 5452 | |
|
In Action | |
| "The Very Thought Of You" b/w "I'm Sorry" |
King 5458 | |
|
Sure Things | |
| "Flamingo" / | King 5503 | |
|
The Sweet, The Hot, The Teen-Age Beat | |
| "(I've Got) Spring Fever" | |
| |||
| "Take My Love (I Want to Give It All To You)" / | King 5516 | |
| ||
| "Now You Know" | |
| |||
| "Need Your Love So Bad" b/w "Drive Me Home" (from Talk To Me) |
King 5539 | |
|
Fever | |
| "There Is Someone In The World For Me" b/w "Autumn Leaves" (from The Sweet, The Hot, The Teen-Age Beat) |
King 5577 | |
|
Talk To Me | |
| 1962 | "Fever" b/w "Bo-Da-Ley Didd-Ley" (Non-album track) |
King 5591 | |
|
Fever |
| "The Masquerade Is Over" b/w "Katanga" (Non-album track) |
King 5602 | |
|
Little Willie John At A Recording Session | |
| "Until Again My Love" b/w "Mister Glenn" |
King 5628 | |
| ||
| "Every Beat Of My Heart" b/w "I Wish I Could Cry" (from Little Willie John At A Recording Session) |
King 5641 | |
|
The Sweet, The Hot, The Teen-Age Beat | |
| "She Thinks I Still Care" b/w "Come Back To Me" |
King 5667 | |
|
Non-album tracks | |
| "Big Blue Diamonds" b/w "Doll Face" |
King 5681 | |
|
Little Willie John At A Recording Session | |
| "Without A Friend" b/w "Half A Love" |
King 5694 | |
| ||
| 1963 | "Heaven All Around Me" b/w "Don't Play With Love" |
King 5717 | |
| |
| "My Baby's In Love With Another Guy" b/w "Come On Sugar" (Non-album track) |
King 5744 | |
| ||
| "Let Them Talk" b/w "Talk To Me" (from Talk To Me) |
King 5799 | |
|
In Action | |
| "So Lovely" b/w "Inside Information" (Non-album track) |
King 5818 | |
|
The Sweet, The Hot, The Teen-Age Beat | |
| "Person To Person" b/w "I'm Shakin'" (from Sure Things) |
King 5823 | |
|
Talk To Me | |
| 1964 | "My Love Will Never Change" b/w "Bill Bailey" (from Little Willie John At A Recording Session) |
King 5850 | |
|
Non-album track |
| "It Only Hurts A Little While" b/w "Rock Love" (from The Sweet, The Hot, The Teen-Age Beat) |
King 5870 | |
|
In Action | |
| "All Around The World" b/w "All My Love Belongs To You" (from Mister Little Willie John) |
King 5886 | |
|
Fever | |
| "Do Something For Me" b/w "Don't You Know I'm In Love" (Non-album track) |
King 5949 | |
| ||
| 1965 | "Talk To Me, Talk To Me" b/w "Take My Love (I Want to Give It All To You)" (from The Sweet, The Hot, The Teen-Age Beat) |
King 6003 | |
|
Talk To Me |
| 1968 | "Fever" b/w "Let Them Talk" (from In Action) |
King 6170 | |
|
Fever |
| 1970 | "All Around The World" b/w "Need Your Love So Bad" |
King 6302 | |
|
References
- ↑ BMI records for Little Willie John
- ↑ Fox, Ted (1983). Showtime at the Apollo. Da Capo. pp. 198–200. ISBN 9780030605338.
- ↑ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 300. ISBN 978-0313344237.
- 1 2 Thedeadrockstarsclub.com- accessed March 2010
- 1 2 Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 83. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- 1 2 "Allmusic ((( Little Willie John - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles )))".
- ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 103. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- 1 2 "Biography for Rudy Toombs". IMBD. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
- ↑ Clarke, John (2008) "Little Willie John - Nineteen Sixty Six", The Times, November 22, 2008
- ↑ Rolling Stone, No. 13, "Little Willie John Dies in Prison", July 6, 1968
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 228. ISBN 0-89820-115-2.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 362. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.