Oliver Sain
| Oliver Sain | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Oliver Sain Jr. |
| Born |
March 1, 1932 Dundee, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 2003 (aged 71) St Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, blues, disco, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Saxophonist, bandleader, songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1949–2003 |
| Associated acts |
Little Milton Fontella Bass Bobby McClure Larry Davis |
Oliver Sain Jr. (March 1, 1932 – October 28, 2003) was an American saxophonist, songwriter, bandleader, drummer and record producer, who was an important figure in the development of rhythm and blues music, notably in St Louis, Missouri.
He was born in Dundee, Mississippi, and was the grandson of Dan Sane, the guitarist in Frank Stokes’ legendary Memphis blues act the Beale Street Sheiks. (The spelling discrepancy was the result of a birth certificate error). He played trumpet and drums as a child. In 1949, he moved to Greenville, Mississippi to join his stepfather, pianist Willie Love, as a drummer in a band fronted by Sonny Boy Williamson, soon leaving to join Howlin’ Wolf where he acted as a drummer intermittently for the following decade. After returning from the United States Army draft, serving in the Korean War, he returned to Greenville, and took up the saxophone to rejoin Love in Little Milton's backing band.
Sain moved to Chicago in 1955, sometimes sitting in with Howlin' Wolf's band and becoming acquainted with the owners of Chess Records. In 1959, he was invited by Little Milton to join him for club engagements in East St Louis, and over time became Little Milton's musical director, as well as performing occasionally with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm. He recruited Fontella Bass as the Little Milton band's keyboard player, only later discovering her singing talents.
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