Ernest Lawlars | |
---|---|
Also known as | Little Son Joe |
Born | Hughes, Arkansas, United States | May 18, 1900
Died | November 14, 1961 Memphis, Tennessee, United States | (aged 61)
Genres | Blues |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, vocalist, composer |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, drums |
Years active | 1930s–1950s |
Labels | Vocalion, Columbia |
Ernest Lawlars (May 18, 1900 – November 14, 1961) [1] was an American blues guitarist, vocalist, and composer, known professionally as Little Son Joe. [2]
Lawlars (sometimes spelled "Lawlers", "Lawler" or "Lawlar") was born in Hughes, Arkansas, United States. From around 1931 to 1936 he worked around Memphis with Robert Wilkins, who he accompanied on a recording session in 1935. [1] The same session also produced Lawlers's first recorded side, under the name Son Joe, although this was not issued. [3]
By 1939, Lawlars was working with, and married to, Memphis Minnie [4] in Chicago. [2] Their first recording session together, for Vocalion in February 1939, produced six released sides by Lawlers as well as four under Minnie's name. [2] Lawlars recorded in his own right under the name Little Son Joe, but most of his recorded work was as an accompanist to Minnie. [5] In 1942 he had a hit with "Black Rat Swing", [6] billed as “Mr. Memphis Minnie”. [7]
Lawlars mostly retired from music from around 1957 because of ill-health, [1] although after moving to Memphis in 1958 he and Minnie had a regular Saturday night gig at the Red Light in Millington, Tennessee, [8] and he played drums on Minnie's final recording session in 1959. [9]
Lawlars died in John Gaston Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, in November 1961 from heart disease, and was buried in the New Hope Cemetery in Walls, Mississippi. [1]
Ernest Lawlars | |
---|---|
Also known as | Little Son Joe |
Born | Hughes, Arkansas, United States | May 18, 1900
Died | November 14, 1961 Memphis, Tennessee, United States | (aged 61)
Genres | Blues |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, vocalist, composer |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, drums |
Years active | 1930s–1950s |
Labels | Vocalion, Columbia |
Ernest Lawlars (May 18, 1900 – November 14, 1961) [1] was an American blues guitarist, vocalist, and composer, known professionally as Little Son Joe. [2]
Lawlars (sometimes spelled "Lawlers", "Lawler" or "Lawlar") was born in Hughes, Arkansas, United States. From around 1931 to 1936 he worked around Memphis with Robert Wilkins, who he accompanied on a recording session in 1935. [1] The same session also produced Lawlers's first recorded side, under the name Son Joe, although this was not issued. [3]
By 1939, Lawlars was working with, and married to, Memphis Minnie [4] in Chicago. [2] Their first recording session together, for Vocalion in February 1939, produced six released sides by Lawlers as well as four under Minnie's name. [2] Lawlars recorded in his own right under the name Little Son Joe, but most of his recorded work was as an accompanist to Minnie. [5] In 1942 he had a hit with "Black Rat Swing", [6] billed as “Mr. Memphis Minnie”. [7]
Lawlars mostly retired from music from around 1957 because of ill-health, [1] although after moving to Memphis in 1958 he and Minnie had a regular Saturday night gig at the Red Light in Millington, Tennessee, [8] and he played drums on Minnie's final recording session in 1959. [9]
Lawlars died in John Gaston Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, in November 1961 from heart disease, and was buried in the New Hope Cemetery in Walls, Mississippi. [1]