From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sat Dec 21, 2002  7:11 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Billy "The Kid" Emerson
 
BILLY "THE KID" EMERSON (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born William Robert Emerson, 21 December, 1929, Tarpon Springs, Florida

Among all the original black artists who recorded for Sun in the first part
of the 1950s, Billy Emerson is surely the one who had the most direct
impact on the white rockabillies. He started recording for Sun as late as
1954, a few months prior to the original dawn of rockabilly and two of his
sides were directly covered by no less than Elvis and Billy Riley (incidentally
two great admirers of the blues), respectively "When It Rains It Pours" and
"Red Hot".
Billy Emerson was born into a musical family. His father played piano and
sang the blues and his uncle John Hannon was a boogie woogie player. He
was principally responsible for getting Billy into the music business.
Billy grew up with the blues and the big band sounds of the 1930s. He took
an early interest in music, singing on stage at the local church. While
still in school, he joined a local band and, by the early 1950s, had turned
full time, playing with bands including George Cooper and Cotton Kirk.
He was drafted in the US Army in 1952, and while stationed in Mississippi,
met up with Ike Turner and Little Milton, ending up playing with Ike's Kings
Of Rhythm. He continued to perform with the group upon his discharge in
1953, as a vocalist and guitarist, performing all over Arkansas, Mississippi
and Tennessee.
Ike Turner was also acting as a talent scout for Sam Phillips and Billy
Emerson was signed to a one-year contract with Sun in 1954.
He recorded his first sides in early 1954, issuing his first single, but it
was his second single (recorded in April), "I'm Not Going Home" / "The
Woodchuck" (Sun 203) that gave him enough success to form his own
band. His third single "Move Baby Move" / "When It Rains It Pours" (Sun
214) was recorded in October 1954. It might have given him the success
he deserved but by this time, Sam Phillips devoted all his time and energy
to Elvis Presley. Ironically, Elvis Presley covered "When It Rains" and Billy
Riley recorded the definitive version of "Red Hot", originally issued by Billy
on his 4th single (Sun 219). One last single was issued, "Little Fine Healthy
Thing" / "Something For Nothing" (Sun 233) in 1955 before Emerson's Sun
contract expired.
He then heard Chicago calling and recorded for Vee-Jay (four singles) and
Chess. He then got into producing, continued to record for small labels and
eventually formed his own Tarpon label. He re-emerged in the 1970s, making
a name for himself on the international circuit, playing his old recordings.

Recommended listening:
- Billy "The Kid" Emerson - "Move, Baby, Movve" Charly CDP 8276
(Sun and Vee-Jay recordings).
- every millionth of Sun Blues comp will feaature at least "Red Hot" by Billy
Emerson.