Little Willie Littlefield
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Little Willie Littlefield (born 16 September 1931, El Campo, Texas[1]) is an American R&B pianist and singer.
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[edit] Career
Influenced by Albert Ammons, Charles Brown, and Amos Milburn[2] 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. There, he recorded "It's Midnight", which became a national hit reaching # 3 on the Billboard R&B chart. He became a major nightclub attraction and recorded with West Coast musicians such as Maxwell Davis.
In 1952 he moved to King Records, his first session producing "K.C. Loving", later re-recorded by Wilbert Harrison as "Kansas City". However, Littlefield’s recording and his subsequent releases were not successful, although he remained a successful club act in the San Francisco area.
In the late 1970s he toured Europe successfully, later settling in the Netherlands and releasing a number of albums. Littlefield built a considerable European reputation with his vigorous boogie-woogie piano playing and smoky singing.[3] He continues to perform occasionally, mainly at festivals.
[edit] See also
- List of blues musicians
- List of boogie woogie musicians
- List of West Coast blues musicians
- List of Jump blues musicians
- West Coast blues
- Chicago Blues Festival
- San Francisco Blues Festival
[edit] Recommended recordings
- Going Back to Kay Cee (Ace Records)
- Paris Streetlights (EPM/Blues Collection)
[edit] References
- ^ All Music Guide biography - accessed December 2007
- ^ All Music Guide biography - accessed December 2007
- ^ a b Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited, p. 137. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
