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Detroit Junior

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Detroit Junior
Detroit Junior in 1960
Background information
Birth nameEmery Williams Jr.
Born(1931-10-26)October 26, 1931
Haynes, Arkansas, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedAugust 9, 2005(2005-08-09) (aged 73)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Piano
  • vocals
Years active1950s–2005

Emery Williams Jr. (October 26, 1931 – August 9, 2005),[1] known as Detroit Junior, was an American 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.

Career

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Born in Haynes, Arkansas,[1][2] Williams 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.[3] He also has recordings on Alligator, Blue Suit, The Sirens Records, and Delmark.

Williams 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, Williams toured and recorded with Howlin' Wolf.[3] After the death of Wolf in 1976, Williams returned to Chicago, where he lived and performed until his death from heart failure in 2005.[1] He was a weekly regular at Chicago blues clubs B.L.U.E.S. and Kingston Mines.[4]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Record label
1990 Chicago Urban Blues Mango
1995 Turn Up the Heat Blue Suit
1997 Take Out the Time Blue Suit
2003 8 Hands on 88 Keys - Chicago Blues Piano Masters The Sirens Records
2004 Live at the Toledo Museum of Art Blue Suit
2004 Blues on the Internet Delmark

[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2005 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Bluesman back in town for 3 concerts". The Blade. November 13, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Detroit Junior Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "Detroit Junior". www.alligator.com. Alligator Records. Retrieved October 7, 2024.