Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Death Of The Day Chuck Willis 30 April 10, 1958 Atlanta, Georgia, USA Peritonitis

Chuck Willis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chuck Willis
Birth nameHarold Willis
BornJanuary 31, 1928
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
DiedApril 10, 1958 (aged 30)
Atlanta, Georgia
GenresR&Brock and roll
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1950–58
LabelsOKehAtlantic
Harold "Chuck" Willis (January 31, 1928 – April 10, 1958)[1] was an American bluesrhythm and blues,[2] and rock and roll singer and songwriter. His biggest hits, "C. C. Rider" (1957) and "What Am I Living For" (1958), both reached No.1 on the Billboard R&B chart. He was known as The King of the Stroll for his performance of the 1950s dance the stroll.[3]

Biography[edit]

Willis was born in Atlanta, Georgia.[4] Willis was spotted at a talent contest by Atlanta radio disc jockey Zenas Sears, who became his manager and helped him to sign with Columbia Records in 1951.[3] After one single, Willis began recording on a Columbia subsidiary, Okeh. During his stay at Okeh, he established himself as a popular R&B singer and songwriter. In 1956, he moved toAtlantic Records where he had immediate success with "It's Too Late (She's Gone)", "Juanita" and "Love Me Cherry". His most successful recording was "C.C. Rider", which topped the US Billboard R&B chart in 1957 and also crossed over and sold well in the pop market. "C.C. Rider" was a remake of a twelve-bar blues, performed by Ma Rainey in Atlanta before Willis was born.[3] Its relaxed beat, combined with a mellow vibraphonebacking and chorus, inspired the emergence of the popular dance, the stroll. Willis's follow-up was "Betty and Dupree", another "stroll" song, which also did well. Willis' single "Going to the River", a song by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino, was a prototype for his "stroll" sound, reaching No.4 on the R&B chart.[3]

Death[edit]

Willis had suffered from stomach ulcers for many years. During surgery in Chicago, Willis died of peritonitis on April 10, 1958 at the age of 30. His untimely death occurred while at the peak of his career, just after the release of his last single, "What Am I Living For?", backed by "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes".
"Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes" was actually the A side of the single but upon his death "What Am I Living For" became the most popular of the two songs.[4] "What Am I Living For?" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] It was also the top R&B disc of 1958.[1]

Influence[edit]

His hit, the blues ballad "It's Too Late (She's Gone)" was covered by other artists, including Otis ReddingRoy OrbisonBuddy Holly and the CricketsTed Taylor (1969 single),Freddie KingDerek and the Dominos and the Jerry Garcia Band. In 2005, it was heavily sampled by Kanye West on Late Registration's "Gone". Elvis Presley covered "I Feel So Bad" and "C. C. Rider" and Ruth Brown and Conway Twitty had hits with "Oh What a Dream".
Willis's cousin is Chick Willis.

Discography[edit]

Chart singles[edit]

YearA-sideLabelChart Positions
US Pop[5]US
R&B
[6]
1952"My Story"OKeh 4-69052
1953"Going to the River"OKeh 4-69524
"Don't Deceive Me"OKeh 4-69856
1954"You're Still My Baby"OKeh 4-70154
"I Feel So Bad"OKeh 4-70298
1956"It's Too Late"Atlantic 10983
"Juanita" /
"Whatcha' Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You"
Atlantic 11127
11
1957"C. C. Rider"Atlantic 1130121
1958"Betty and Dupree"Atlantic 11683315
"What Am I Living For" /
"Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes"
Atlantic 11799
24
1
9
"My Life"Atlantic 11924612
"Keep A-Driving"Atlantic 200519

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