Sunday, September 06, 2015

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Detroit Junior

Artist:Detroit Junior
Song:Call My Job
Album:American Blues Volume 2





Emery Williams Jr. AKA Detroit Junior was mainly known as a sideman for Chicago bluesmen. He recorded a few singles in the 60s and then had success later in life. Also, some of his songs were hits for other artists. He was born Oct. 26, 1931 in Haynes, AR. He moved a lot as a child, first to Memphis, then to Pularski, IL and then to live with his grandmother in Flint, MI. That's where he learned to play piano and Williams played local clubs as a teen. Williams moved to Detroit where he backed up guys like Eddie Boyd, John Lee Hooker and Amos Milburn. Boyd brought Williams to Chicago in 1956. Williams worked with Boyd, Jimmy Reed and Eddie Taylor. Williams was given the name Detroit Junior when he recorded the 1960 single Too Poor for Chess Records. He also recorded Money Tree which was successfully covered by Koko Taylor. When things didn't work out at Chess, Williams went across the street to USA Records and recorded a few singles for them including Call My Job in 1965. Call My Job was a hit for Albert King. USA Records was best known for The Buckinghams. But they also picked up blues artists rejected by Chess because they were across the street. Williams' recording of Call My Job is available on this Varese various artists comp CD. In 1968, Williams was pianist for Howlin' Wolf until Wolf's 1976 death. Williams recorded for Alligator Records in the 80s. His 2004 live CD Blues On The Internet on Delmark Records includes a live recording of Call My Job. This was Williams' final album as he died on Aug. 9, 2005 at age 73. Here's a video for Call My Job by Detroit Junior.

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