From:   "Jean Marc Pezet" 
Date:  Sat Aug 24, 2002  6:48 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Wynonie Harris

WYNONIE HARRIS (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born 24 August 1915, Omaha, Nebraska
Died 14 June 1969, Oakland, California

"Mr Blues"

Wynonie Harris was a larger-than-life character, with a life filled with women
and booze. He rose to fame in the late 40s and early 50s, recording what is
recognized today as some of the best Jump Blues ever laid down.

Wynonie Harris was born in Omaha from a 15 year-old mother and apparently
an American Indian father, that Wynonie has only seen one time in his life.
During the Depression years, Wynonie started his professional career at
first as a dancer and comedian, and then as a blues shouter in small local
clubs around Omaha. After several trips to Kansas City where he discovered
both Jimmy Rushing and his big influence Big Joe Turner, Wynonie headed to
California in 1944. A bright move, as immediate post-war times where quite
lucrative on the West Coast.
He soon became quite well-known and his first break on record came in 1944
with the Lucky Millinder Orchestra, which he had joined earlier on as main
vocalist. His second single, "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well", became
a smash hit in 1945.
With his popularity growing, Wynonie started to ask more money, eventually
leaving Lucky Millinder to pursue a solo career, then relocating to New York.
During the following years, he recorded for Philo, Apollo, Hamp-Tone, Bullet,
Aladdin (a "Battle Of The Blues" with his hero Big Joe Turner).
In 1947, he signed with King Records, starting a fruitful association for
both parties, scoring a string of hits with, among others, a cover (and the
definitive version) of Roy Brown's "Good Rockin Tonight", # 1 for 25 weeks in
1948, "All She Wants To Do Is Rock", # 1 for 18 weeks, "Sittin On It All The
Time", Louis Innis' "Good Morning Judge", Hank Penny's "Bloodshot Eyes" and
finally "Lovin' Machine" in 1952.

By this time, popular tastes had started to change and young groups were
preferred to mature men singing risqué lyrics! Despite fine recordings, in
1954, King didn't renew Wynonie contract (though he did a further session
for them in 1957) and times started to become harder, gone was the money
and the good life.
Sporadic recordings were made for Roulette and Chess. Wynonie made a last
appearance at the Apollo Theater in 1967, but the 60s Blues Revival wouldn't
be for him as he left this earth in 1969, following a battle with cancer.

Now, it's time for us to cherish the recorded legacy of Wynonie Harris,
certainly the best Blues Shouter of his time and one of the most influential
artists of his decade.

Recommended reading:
Tony Collins, Rock Mr Blues : The life and music of Wynonie Harris.
Milford, NH : Big Nickel Publications, 1995.
More info: http://freespace.virgin.net/j.hobday/master.html

Recommended listening:
- "Rockin The Blues" 4CD Set Proper Box  20
((almost) complete recordings 1945-1950)
- "Women, Whiskey And Fish Tails" Ace CDDCHD 457
- "Lovin' Machine" Ace CDCHD 843
(King recordings 1951-1957, complement the Box Set)