Fever: Little Willie John's Fast Life, Mysterious Death, and the Birth of Soul: The Authorised Biography by Susan Whitall

Author:Susan Whitall [Whitall, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Music, Individual Composer & Musician, Biography & Autobiography, Entertainment & Performing Arts, John, Little Willie, 1937-1968, Singers, Soul musicians, Rhythm and blues musicians, Soul music, Rhythm and blues music, African American musicians, Musicians, Tonträger
ISBN: 9780857687968
Google: IW6_BgAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00MLDTFOQ
Publisher: Titan Books
Published: 2011-10-13T23:00:00+00:00

"teenage musical," although there is no further mention of a film; the magazine story was probably a photo op meant to hype up interest in such a project. Franklin, a recording artist himself, was comfortable in the entertainment world and familiar with Willie through the fandom of his children Erma, Cecil, Aretha and Carolyn.

Willie's career had turned hot again after "Talk to Me, Talk to Me," so King fired up the machinery to capitalize on his higher profile and released several singles that summer in quick succession; "Let's Rock While the Rockin's Good" backed with "You're a Sweetheart" was released in late June, with "Tell It Like It Is" hitting the stores just two months later.

Willie had high hopes that "You're a Sweetheart" would help break him out of the blues mold. "If I can just get this record to click, I won't have to sing blues any more," he told a reporter that summer. Actually, he wanted to be able to do the smooth crooner thing, while not entirely abandoning his blues fans. Nat King Cole was able to do both-and wear stingy brim hats while he was doing it. "Any time Nat Cole can sing 'Mona Lisa' and come and sing 'Looking Back,' then I know that that's the kind of thing I want to do some day," Willie said. He added: "I will still sing ballads because my soul lies so deep and painful that I have to sing them."

The Apollo billed him as 'the prince of the blues,' but in November Willie received a new tagline when he was advertised at Chicago's Mocambo Club as "The Smallest Man with the Biggest Sound." In the third week of December came his final release of 1958: "No Regrets."

Willie did regret one thing. That same month he got into a scrape in Atlanta; he was charged with making calls on a phony credit card. Willie was released after bonding out, with the promise that he would make good on his long distance charges.

"It's a wonder I didn't jump off a building or commit suicide," Clarence Avant said of the time he spent as road manager for Willie John. "Willie was plain genius when it came to performing, but a pain in the ass. I was so green." Avant was managing Teddy P's Lounge in Newark, New Jersey when owner Teddy Powell booked Willie for a week's engagement. When Powell had to go promote a Sam Cooke show in another city, he left young Clarence in charge, with a warning. "Teddy said, 'Clarence, whatever you do, don't give Willie the

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