From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue Sep 3, 2002  1:16 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Memphis Slim
 
MEMPHIS SLIM (By Shaun Mather)

Born John Chatman aka Peter Chatman, 3 September 1915, Memphis, Tennessee
Died 24 February 1988, Paris, France

Vocalist / pianist / organist.
Peter Chatman was born and raised in Memphis, but moved to Chicago in
1937, soon after which he began recording for Okeh. He signed for Bluebird
in 1940 (where Lester Melrose changed his name to Memphis Slim) and
formed an association with Big Bill Broonzy who took him under his wing.
After World War II he joined Hy-Tone Records, cutting eight tracks that
were later picked up by King. He moved to Miracle 1947 and with his
backing band the House Rockers cut his classics Lend Me Your Love
and Rockin' the House. The next year brought the landmark Nobody Loves
Me and Messin' Around (With the Blues), which topped the R&B charts.

He continued to switch labels, going to Peacock then Premium (where he waxed
the first version of his legendary Mother Earth). Next came Chess, Mercury
then United Records from 1952 to 1954. This coincided with a particularly
fertile period for him with his guitarist Matt Murphy adding class to the likes
of The Come Back, Sassy Mae and Memphis Slim U.S.A. Before the decade
was through, he'd landed at Vee-Jay Records.

In 1962 he moved to Paris, France, where he was revered and respected in a
way that he was denied back in the States. He married Christini Freys, daughter
of a Parisian night club owner, performed at major European festivals and blues
venues, and also ran his own blues venue in Paris, the Memphis Melodies Club.
Shortly before his death, the U.S. Senate honored him with the title of
Ambassador-at-Large of Good Will while the French government bestowed on him
the prestigious title of Commander of Arts and Letters. He lived in Paris until
he
died there of kidney failure on February 24, 1988. He was brought home to
Memphis
on March 4 for burial next to his father in Galilee Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The occasion was proclaimed Memphis Slim Tribute Day by the mayor, and flags
were flown at half staff.

Recommended listening:
The Bluebird Recordings 1940-1941 (RCA 07863 66720 2). 23 tracks.
The Folkway Years, 1959-1973 (Smithsonian)
Life Is Like That (See For Miles)
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (1940-1941), Vol. 2 (1946-1948) and
Vol. 3 (1948-1950) on EPM (France)