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Big Maceo |
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Info: Biography, Pictures, Discography of all CDs & DVDs |
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| Born Major Merriweather (or Merewether) in Atlanta, Georgia, he taught himself how to play piano.His first record was "Worried Life Blues" (1941), which promptly became a blues hit and remained his signature piece.Other classic piano blues recordings such as "Chicago Breakdown" followed.Meade "Lux" Lewis and Albert Ammons.See Copyrights for details.Yet, for many, their recorded output consists of next to nothing.Big Maceo Merriweather belongs in this elite company.In 1924, at the age of 19,
Merriweather's family relocated once again.Hattie Spruel was an ambitious woman and first met
Maceo when she hired him to play for parties in her home.She introduced them to
Maceo and the two were impressed with his skills.Perhaps to easily stress this point, look no further than the repertoire of
Robert Johnson.Many of his compositions were reworkings of songs by artists like
Kokomo Arnold, Son House and Tommy Johnson, among others."Trouble No More" a decade later.Tampa Red also had previously scored repute playing hokum numbers and dozens with keyboardist
Thomas A.At that time, materials used for making records became scarce and a ban was enacted prohibiting most recording.Tampa Red and Big Bill Broonzy on the city's South
Side.Roosevelt Sykes, Albert Ammons, Meade "Lux " Lewis and especially,
Leroy Carr.It was Carr's restrained approach and casual vocals that most impressed him.Unfortunately, Big Maceo's career was cut short after he suffered a stroke in 1946 that left him almost completely paralyzed on his right side.Another pianist to occupy this spot would be Otis Spann, who idolized
Big Maceo.All three of these musicians went on to become headliners on the Chicago Blues scene, incorporating their lessons learned at the side of
Big Maceo.Big Maceo retired from playing in 1949 following yet another stroke.Big Maceo Merriweather was a rising star whose time was dramatically taken from him much too early.Eric
Clapton, have made the song a staple of their live repertoires.He began working the cafes and honky tonks located on Harvard Street, as well as playing at house rent parties and fish fries throughout the city.She introduced them to Maceo and the two were impressed with his skills.They brought him to the attention of RCA's master producer, Lester Melrose, and within just a few weeks Maceo was recording for the famed Bluebird label.The first session would prove to be extremely fruitful for Big Maceo, as his friends called him.Together they made an ideal team, and Maceo played piano with the more experienced guitarist at numerous clubs and cabarets, and at many informal party dates.Unlike a great many boogie pianists Merriweather was a master of the music in the slow and medium tempos as well as the fast.It was in the free solo choruses which he usually introduced into his recordings that Maceo displayed his inventiveness, but whether elaborate or stark in their plainness, his improvisations had inherent blues feelings.As an accompanist to other singers Maceo excelled, and with his attention undivided he created blues of majestic beauty on recordings by several artists.At that time, materials used for making records became scarce and a ban was enacted prohibiting most recording.At the conclusion of the war, Melrose immediately brought his stable of Blues artists back to the studio.Unfortunately, Big Maceo's career was cut short after he suffered a stroke in 1946 that left him almost completely paralyzed on his right side.Another pianist to occupy this spot would be Otis Spann, who idolized Big Maceo.All three of these musicians went on to become headliners on the Chicago Blues scene, incorporating their lessons learned at the side of Big Maceo.Spann would become the most prominent of all the Chicago Blues pianists identified with his tenure in the Muddy Waters Band.Big Maceo retired from playing in 1949 following yet another stroke.Poor health and a lifetime of heavy drinking eventually led to a fatal heart attack.He died on February 23, 1953 in Chicago.Based on these sessions alone, Big Maceo lives on.Google
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MetaCrawler for Big Maceo.Throughout the 1930's Big Maceo is a familiar figure at the piano in the clubs of Detroit's Hastings Street.Lester Melrose supervises their first recordings for the Bluebird Label.Big Maceo goes on to record several titles of his own, including 'Worried Life Blues'.Sonny Boy Williamson I for the Victor label in 1945.In Milwaukee, Big Maceo suffers a stroke in 1946 that paralyses his right side.Big Maceo records for the Victor label with Eddie Boyd on piano in 1947.Big Maceo dies after a heart attack on 26 February 1953.He is buried in Detroit.Sorry, the page you're trying to reach is unavailable or the page may no longer exist."Big Maceo Merriweather on MSN Music";s.Recorded in Chicago, Ill.Worried Life Blues
2.One could say that the title underrates his talents by ignoring his vocal gifts, which were easily the equal of his instrumental skills.Anytime for You,' it is surprising to hear the piano jump out for a change.On the middle period of these recordings, Maceo reaches his most perfect balance of voice and instrument.On this date we recall the birth of Big Maceo in 1905.There he met the popular blues guitarist Tampa Red.They soon became best friends and performing partners.Red introduced Big Maceo to producer Lester Melrose of Bluebird Records who signed him to a recording contract.Worried Life Blues (1941), which promptly became a blues hit and made him a star in Chicago blues circles.Other classics such as Chicago Breakdown, Texas Stomp, and Detroit Jump followed.Big Maceo cut some thirty recordings, in all, most of them exceptional, before his career was cut short in 1946 by a stroke.Big Maceo was one of the most influential blues piano players of the 1940s.World War II blues pianist of note, especially Otis Spann, Johnny Jones, and Eddie Boyd.Big Maceo died on February 23, 1953.Big Maceo Merriweather at Amazon.Major Merriweather was already a seasoned pianist when he arrived in Detroit in 1924.Big Maceo Merriweather at Amazon.Unlimited access to a 1,300,000+ song library including all Big Maceo tracks.Information about prices, products, services and merchants is provided by third parties and is for informational purposes only.Lovie LeeLittle Johnny JonesHenry GrayJohnnie JohnsonPerformed Songs ByMajor MerriweatherWorked WithRansom KnowlingAlfred ElkinsBlind John DavisMore...Big Maceo Merriweather at Amazon.Big Maceo Merriweather at Amazon.Enter Your Cell And Receive 10 Ringtones!Unlimited access to a 1,300,000+ song library including all Big Maceo tracks.Build your own online store or Advertise with us.Current Advertisers Sign InHelp improve Yahoo!More Big Maceo on Rhapsody.Unauthorized use is prohibited.O_GoT(' Tell us what you think of Rollingstone. |
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