Detroit Junior
Emery "Detroit Junior" Williams, Jr. (October 26, 1931 – August 9, 2005)[2] was an American Chicago blues pianist, vocalist and songwriter. He is known for songs such as "So Unhappy", "Call My Job", "If I Hadn't Been High", "Ella" and "Money Tree". His songs have been covered by Koko Taylor, Albert King and other blues artists.
Detroit Junior | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Emery Williams, Jr. |
| Born | October 26, 1931 Haynes, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | August 9, 2005 (aged 73) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Chicago blues, electric blues[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1950s–2005 |
| Labels | Various |
Career
Born in Haynes, Arkansas,[2] Detroit recorded his first single, "Money Tree", with the Bea & Baby label in 1960. His first full album, Chicago Urban Blues, was released in the early 1970s on the Blues on Blues label.[1] He also has recordings on Alligator, Blue Suit, The Sirens Records, and Delmark.
Detroit Junior began his career in Detroit, Michigan, backing touring musicians such as Eddie Boyd, John Lee Hooker, and Amos Milburn. Boyd brought him to Chicago in 1956, where he spent the next twelve years. In the early 1970s, Detroit toured and recorded with Howlin' Wolf.[1] After the death of Wolf in 1976, Detroit returned to Chicago, where he lived and performed until his death from heart failure in 2005.[2] He was a weekly regular at Chicago blues clubs B.L.U.E.S. and Kingston Mines.
He was survived by his brother Kenneth H. Williams. Kenneth H. Williams is a songwriter, guitarist and noted audio engineer currently engineering for Erykah Badu, Donald Glover Jr. AKA Childish Gambino and many others.
Discography
References
- Steve Leggett. "Detroit Junior". Allmusic. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed July 2010
- "Allmusic ((( Detroit Junior > Discography > Main Albums )))".