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Elvis was called the “King of Rock and Roll"
Aretha Franklin is the "Queen of Soul"
James Brown is the "Godfather of Soul"
Michael Jackson is the “King of Pop"
Little Willie John was once dubbed the “Prince of the Blues”. He exerted a great influence on the music scene. Not only did he influence the R&B genre, entertainers across the musical spectrum were influenced by his vocal style. He was probably one of the most emulated and imitated vocalist of our time.
On January 17, 1996 LWJ was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The presenter was the legendary, “Stevie Wonder”. While presenting, Stevie spoke about John’s vocal talent and how he listened to John's records “day after day” and was influence by this great artist.
Speaking about the music and influence of Little Willie John, listen to what one reviewer said about his recordings:" It's rather strange how a singer who influenced every R&B singer of his day, and well beyond, not to mention Peggy Lee and Sinatra, does not have a boxed set of all his recordings...............together, and possibly with a few radio appearances and live tracks." Amazon.com
All this having been said, Why isn’t Little Willie John in the Rhythm and Blues Foundation with the rest of his peers? .
If YOU think so, why not let the folks at the RHYTHM & BLUES FOUNDATION know ...!
Little Willie John Little  Willie John
Regards,
Kajun (a.k.a. KevMuzMan)
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Last Login: 2/24/2007 1:19:05 PM
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| hello Kajun, I agree with your praise for Little Willie John and your statement that he should get the respect his talent deserves.
To have a boxed set of all his recordings and possibly a few radio appearances and live tracks would be ideal of course. Thank G*d I own most of his recordings for King records. And the tribute by James Brown. But to be honest, I have always wondered why there are so few people on this planet who actually know about this great singer. Elvis, Aretha, James and Michael do have a major different career; they have recorded for over a few decades while Little Willie John only recorded between 1955-1961. A difficult time for R&B and Jump Blues repertoire within the shift towards Rock & Roll and a new wave of artists and music. A difficult time for sure for black artists doing R&B who were suddenly regarded as 'old hat'. And during these years he only gave the world a few hits; "All around the World" "Need Your Love So Bad," "Suffering with the Blues," "Fever," "Let Them Talk," and his last, "Sleep". Live-performances and touring is another important part of the career of many artists and I have no idea how visible Little Willie John was during his career. Compare that to the constant presence and the string of hits by Elvis, Aretha, James and Michael over a few decades and I think it's very clear why Little Willie John remains a stranger to most listeners. Also his turbulent life may be an important factor in the denial of his greatness by the general public. He was known to pack a gun and knife and he died in a penitentiary. Now, James Brown may have been jailed for beating his wife but he surely was never convicted for killing a man. As such, I don't think Joe Average will ever agree with the lifestyle of a singer like Little Willie John. Most legendary singers, like Sam Cooke are being killed, they do not kill themselves. Don't get me wrong, this is not my judgement but only an observation. And I believe that the talent of Little Willie John during the '50s, was overshadowed by dominating and more productive vocalists like Ray Charles and Ruth Brown, as well as vocal groups like the Drifters and the Coasters. Although Little Willie John never received the accolades given to the likes of Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter and James Brown he ranks as one of R&B's most influential performers. And that's a fact that can't be denied.
all is love, love is all
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| I think that Little Willie John should be in the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, without question. He was a major influence on a LOT of famous folks, not the least of which is James Brown. As for his chequered history...there are a lot of people in the Rock Hall that aren't exactly known for proper behavior, as well as some of the sports halls. I think that he needs to be honored PRONTO!! Best, Mark
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