From:  "Dik de Heer"  
Date:  Mon Apr 26, 2004  1:33 am
Subject:  This Is My Story : Chuck Wiley
 
CHUCK WILEY

Born Charles Wiley, Indiana

Chuck Wiley is one of the genuine mysteries of the original 1950's rock
and roll scene. Not even a photograph of him has ever surfaced, despite
exhaustive efforts on both sides of the Atlantic to find one. His life story
is very sketchy, almost a rock 'n' roll version of Robert Johnson, the great
Delta bluesman.

Wiley was the son of a minister, who disowned him for playing the Devil's
music. Chuck's rasping voice was just right for the times and that,
combined with his hot boogie piano playing, ensured him a very healthy
living, mainly playing various Chicago clubs. It's not easy to classify his
style, he was clearly absorbing everything that was going on around him.
In his NDT review, Chris Woodford writes that at times he sounds like
Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis and sometimes like something in-
between. These are obvious influences, but in his most intense moments
he reminds me most of all of Ray Smith, during his 1958 Sun period. On
several tracks, especially the slower ones, there are clear New Orleans
influences to be heard as well, or let's say Louisiana influences, almost
in the swamp pop style.

Wiley auditioned for legendary Nashville music man Murray Nash, who
was very impressed with Chuck's strong voice and his writing ability,
which again, was right in tune with the times. During the 1957-59 period
he recorded some twenty different songs, most of which came from his
own pen. Six singles were released, on four different labels : Spangle (2),
United Artists (2), Jax and Music Centre. Highlights for me are the frantic
"Come Back Baby", "Door To Door", "Tear It Up" (not the Johnny Burnette
tune), "I Wanna Dance All Night" and "It's Love". Piano-led rock 'n' roll
doesn't get much better than this! However, it's not quite clear to me if
Chuck played piano on his own recordings. The Gee Dee booklet (see
below) mentions Hargus "Pig" Robbins as the piano player, Wayne Moss
as the guitar player and Buddy Harman as the drummer. On some tracks
we hear an uncredited sax player.

Chuck was achieving some popularity with his records and he began to
be offered tours. Sadly, his career ended almost as soon as it had started.
His Chicago bosses, aware of his tremendous popularity in the clubs,
didn't want to lose him and were not at all interested in their club favourite
being lured away to become a rock 'n' roll star. Chuck, somewhat naively,
told his "employers" he was going on tour anyway, when his contract was
complete. The day after the contract was completed, Chuck woke up in
hospital, having been severely beaten up and left in a back alley. When he
recovered, he left the music business completely and retired to perfect
obscurity. Nothing remains, no address, no trace, nothing. All that's left
is the wonderful music he made. 

His complete recordings (including some demo tapes) were issued in 1995
on the German Gee Dee label :
Chuck Wiley, Tear It Up, Gee Dee CD 270116-2. 23 tracks. Licensed from
Dave Travis, who wrote the (short) liner notes.

Other sources used:
Chris Woodford's review of this CD in Now Dig This 158 (May 1996).
Terry Gordon's website: http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/artists/w/wile1000.htm