Wynonie Harris

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Wynonie "Mr. Blues" Harris (August 24, 1915-June 14, 1969) , born in Omaha, Nebraska, was an American blues shouter and rhythm and blues singer. Mr. Harris was the subject of a 1994 biography by Tony Collins.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Early career 3 With Lucky Millinder 4 Solo career 5 Later career 6 Death 7 References

[edit] Early life

Harris's mother, Mallie Hood Anderson, was fifteen at the time of his birth and unmarried. Harris's father's identity is uncertain, though Harris's wife, Olive E. Goodlow, and daughter, Patricia Vest, attributing to Harris himself, have said that Harris's father was a Native American called Blue Jay. Harris remained fatherless until Mallie married Luther Harris, fifteen years her senior, in 1920.

In 1931, while in ninth grade, Harris dropped out of school in North Omaha, and the following year his first child, daughter Micky, was born to Naomi Henderson. Only ten months later, Harris's second child, son Wesley, was born to Laura Devereaux. Both children were raised by their mothers. Son Wesley also went on to a career in singing, performing in vocal groups The Five Echoes and The Sultans. Wesley later became the singer/guitarist in Preston Love's band. Love and Harris were childhood friends.

[edit] Early career

With dance partner Velda Shannon, Harris formed a dance team in the early 1930s. The team performed around North Omaha's bustling entertainment community, and by 1934 were a popular regular attraction at The Ritz Theatre. It wasn't until 1935, however, that Harris was able to earn a living as an entertainer. Performing at the new Jim Bell's Harlem nightclub with Shannon, it was here that Harris began to sing the Blues.

Harris started travelling frequently to Kansas City where he began observing and paying closer attention to the great Blues shouters of the time including Jimmy Rushing and Big Joe Turner. Harris became a small local celebrity and attracted the attention of sixteen-year-old Olive Goodlow of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Olive sneaked across the Missouri River and into Jim Bell's Harlem to see Harris perform. The two starting courting and on May 20, 1936 Ollie gave birth to daughter Patricia. On December 11, 1936, Harris and Ollie married. For a time they lived in the now demolished Logan Fontenelle projects in North Omaha.

In 1940, Harris picked up his family and moved to Los Angeles to make better of his music career. At that time Central Avenue in LA was becoming a hotspot for musical activity. Harris's break was at a nightclub owned by Curtis Mosby called the Club Alabam.

[edit] With Lucky Millinder

Performing continuously, Harris was spotted by Lucky Millinder and was asked to sing in the band. Harris accepted and joined the band on March 24, 1944. Harris joined while the band was in the middle of a week-long residency at the Regal in Chicago and therefore had to wait out the week until the band finished up the shows. Finally, on April 7, Harris took the stage with Millinder's for his debut at the Apollo Theatre. It was during this debut that Harris was given the song "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" (a song recorded two years earlier by Doc Wheeler's Sunset Orchestra) by Millinder to sing. The tune was an instant hit.

After the band's stint at the Apollo they moved on to their regular residency at the Savoy Ballroom. Here, Preston Love, Harris's childhood friend, joined Millinder's band replacing altoist Tab Smith.

On May 26 of 1944, Harris made his recording debut with Millinder. Entering a recording studio for the first time, Harris sang on two of the five cuts that day for Decca Records, "Hurry, Hurry" and "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well".

Harris's success and popularity grew while he sang for Millinder, but he and Millinder eventually had a falling out regarding Harris's pay. In September 1945 while playing in San Antonio, Texas Harris quit Millinder's band. Three weeks later, when a Houston promoter had heard of Harris's departure, he refused to allow the gig to ahead. Millinder called Harris and agreed to pay Harris's quite profitable asking price of one-hundred dollars a night. The promoter resigned the gig, but it would be the last time Harris and Millinder would work together. Ben "Bull Moose" Jackson replaced Harris as vocalist of the band.

It wasn't exactly the end of Harris and Millinder, however. In April 1945, a year after it was recorded, Decca finally released "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well". It went to number one on July 17, staying there for six weeks. By now Harris was back in California. The success of "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" opened doors for Harris, and since the contract with Decca was with Millinder (meaning Harris was a free agent, or sorts), Harris was not contract-restricted and free to pick and choose from any of the new label deals being tossed his way.

[edit] Solo career

Harris signed with the Philo, a label owned by brothers, Leo and Edward Mesner. Harris's band was assembled by Johnny Otis, and the group recorded the two-sided 78 rpm record "Around the Clock". Although not a chart topper, the song became influential and was covered by many artists, such as Jo Jo Adams, Willie Bryant, and even two of Harris's early heroes Jimmy Rushing and Big Joe Turner.

Harris went on to record sessions with other labels, including Apollo, Bullet, Aladdin, to name a few. However, his greatest success came when he signed for Syd Nathan's King label, where he enjoyed a series of big hits on the US R&B chart in the late 40's and early 50's. These included the anthemic "Good Rockin' Tonight" (later covered by Elvis Presley), "Good Morning Judge", "Bloodshot Eyes", and "All She Wants To Do Is Rock".

[edit] Later career

Harris went in and out of several recording studios between 1954 and 1964. Financial burdens grew and Harris was forced to move into less exclusive neighbourhoods. His final recordings were three sides with the Chess label in 1964. His final large performance took place at the Apollo in November of 1967 where he performed with Big Joe Turner, Big Mama Thornton, Jimmy Witherspoon, and T-Bone Walker.

[edit] Death

In 1964, Harris resettled for the last time in Los Angeles. He died of esophagus cancer at the USC Medical Centre Hospital in Los Angeles.

[edit] References