Willie Mabon
| Willie Mabon | |
|---|---|
Mabon in 1976
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Willie James Mabon |
| Born |
October 24, 1925 Hollywood, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | April 19, 1985 (aged 59) Paris, France |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1949–1984 |
| Labels | Apollo, , Parrot, Chess, Federal, Mad, Formal, USA, Storyville, Blues on Blues, Black & Blue, America, Ornament, L+R |
Willie James Mabon (October 24, 1925 – April 19, 1985) was an American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist, who had two number one hits on the Billboard R&B chart: "I Don't Know" in 1952, and "I'm Mad" in 1953.
Born and brought up in Hollywood, Memphis, Tennessee, he had become known as a singer and pianist by the time he moved to Chicago in 1942. He formed a group, the Blues Rockers, and in 1949 began recording for and then Chess Records.
His biggest success came in 1952 when his debut solo release, "I Don't Know", written by Cripple Clarence Lofton (who received no royalties), topped the Billboard R&B chart for eight weeks. It was one of the most popular releases of its era and was Chess's biggest hit in the period before the successes of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. It was also one of the first R&B hit records to be covered by a leading white artist, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Mabon's original was played on Alan Freed's early radio shows and also sold well to white audiences, crossing over markets at the start of the rock and roll era.
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