Willie James Lyons(December 5, 1938 – December 26, 1980) was an AmericanChicago bluesguitarist, singer and songwriter.[2]He worked primarily in theWest Sideof Chicago from the late 1950s up to his death. Lyons was an accompanist to many musicians who includedLuther Allison,Jimmy DawkinsandBobby Rush.A noted performer in his own right, Lyons work was influenced byB.B. KingandFreddie King,T-Bone WalkerandLowell Fulson.[1]His only solo album wasChicago Woman,recorded in France in 1979.[1]
Willie James Lyons | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 5, 1938 Alabama,United States |
| Died | December 26, 1980(aged 42) Chicago,Illinois,United States |
| Genres | Chicago blues,electric blues[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist,singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar,vocals |
| Years active | Late 1950s–1980 |
Biography
editLyons was born inAlabama,United States.[1]He was, according to the1940 United States Census,living inAliceville, Alabama,with his parent, brother, and sister.[3]
Details of his early life are sketchy, but he had relocated toChicago,Illinois,by the mid-1950s. In 1971,Willie Kenttook up residence at Ma Bea's Lounge in West Madison, Chicago. The house band became known as Sugar Bear and the Beehives, headed by Kent (the Sugar Bear) with guitarist Willie James Lyons and drummer Robert Plunkett. For the next six years, this troupe backed visiting musicians, such asFenton Robinson,Hubert Sumlin,Eddy Clearwater,Jimmy Johnson,Carey Bell,Buster Benton,John Littlejohn,Casey Jones,andMighty Joe Young.The house band's proficient playing led to their recording a live album in October 1975 at Ma Bea's, billed asGhetto.[4]
In the 1970s,Lacy Gibsonalso played alongside Lyons at the Poinciana on the West Side.[5]In October 1977, Lyons played onRobert "Big Mojo" Elem's album,Mojo Boogie.[6]
In December 1979, Lyons played guitar onJohnny "Big Moose" Walker's album,Going Home Tomorrow.He also appeared onLefty Dizz's album,Somebody Stole My Christmas.The latter was recorded ten days after Walker's album, but not released until 1980.[7]Lyons solo album,Chicago Woman,was recorded between December 1, and 22, 1979, at the Decca Studio, inParis,France. The participants on the recording were Lyons on vocals and guitar, Johnny "Big Moose" Walker playing piano withJimmy Johnsonon second guitar, Robert "Big Mojo" Elem on bass guitar, andOdie Payneplaying the drums.[7]All three of these albums were released on the Frenchrecord label,Isabel Records.[7]Chicago Womanincluded Lyons re-working ofLowell Fulson's song "Reconsider Baby",[8]in addition to covering otherblues standardssuch as "Little Red Rooster"and"Hoochie Coochie Man"and"Rock Me Baby".[9]However,Chicago Womanincorporated three of Lyons own compositions; "I've Got Trouble on My Mind", "Groovin' In Paris", plus the title track.[10]
Lyons died on December 26, 1980, in Chicago at the age of 42.[11]An obituary for him appeared inLiving Bluesmagazine (issue No. 50) in early 1981.[12]
Discography
edit| Year | Title | Record label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Ghetto | MCM Records | live album with one side byWillie Kent;reissued on CD in 1998 byStoryville Records |
| 1979 | Chicago Woman | Isabel Records |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcd"Willie James Lyons | Biography & History".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^Colin Larkin,ed. (2006).Encyclopedia of Popular Music(Fourth ed.).Oxford University Press.p. 1541.ISBN9780195313734.
- ^"Willie James Lyons in the 1940 Census | Ancestry®".Ancestry.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"Willie Kent - Biography".Williekentblues.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"Alligator Records - Genuine Houserockin' Music Since 1971".Alligator.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"Mojo Boogie - Storyville Records".Storyvillerecords.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^abc"Illustrated Isabel Records discography".Wirz.de.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"Chicago Woman by Willie James Lyons: Album Samples, Covers and Remixes".Whosampled.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"Klektic Fox Records - Blues L".K-fox.ch.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"Willie James Lyons - Chicago Woman".Discogs.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s".Thedeadrockstarsclub.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^Ford, Robert (March 31, 2008)."Obituary: Willie James Lyons".Living Blues.pp. 43/4.ISBN9781135865085.
- ^"Willie James Lyons | Album Discography".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.
- ^"Ghetto: Willie Kent / Wille James Lyons".Amazon.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2019.