From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Big Maceo
 
BIG MACEO

Born Major Merriweather, 31 March 1905, Atlanta, Georgia
Died 26 February 1953, Chicago, Illinois

Vocalist / pianist. The thundering 88s of Big Maceo Merriweather
helped pave the way for the great Chicago blues pianists of the 1950s,
men like Johnny Jones, Otis Spann and Henry Gray. Unfortunately,
Merriweather wouldn't be around to enjoy their innovations -- he died
a few years after suffering a debilitating stroke in 1946.
Major Merriweather was already a seasoned pianist when he arrived in
Detroit in 1924. After working around the Motor City scene, he ventured to
Chicago in 1941 to make his recording debut for producer Lester Melrose
and RCA Victor's Bluebird subsidiary. His first day in the studio produced
14 tracks, six of his own and eight more as accompanist to renowned
Chicago guitarist Tampa Red. One of his initial efforts, "Worried Life
Blues," has passed into blues standard status (Chuck Berry was hip to it,
covering it for Chess). Merriweather remained Tampa Red's favourite
pianistic accompanist, gigging extensively with him and Big Bill Broonzy
on Chicago's South side. The pianist cut a series of terrific sessions as a
leader for Bluebird in 1941-42 and 1945 (the latter including his tour de
force, "Chicago Breakdown", and his only chart entry, "Things Have
Changed", # 4 R&B) before a stroke paralyzed his right side. He tried
to overcome it, cutting for Victor in 1947 with Eddie Boyd assuming piano
duties and again for Specialty in 1949 with this time Johnny Jones at the
stool. His health fading steadily after that, Merriweather died in 1953.

CD recommendation: The Victor/Bluebird Recordings 1945-1947 (RCA)
More info: http://www.cascadeblues.org/History/MaceoMerriweather.htm