AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Lowell Fulson

Artist:Lowell Fulson

Song:Reconsider Baby

Album:Reconsider Baby: The Complete Checker Singles 1954-1962

The 1954 single Reconsider Baby is the best known song written and performed by bluesman Lowell Fulson. It was also influential in developing the West Coast blues style pioneered by T-Bone Walker. He was born Mar. 31, 1921 on a Choctaw reservation in Atoka, OK. His father died when he was six years old. So his mom moved the family to nearby Clarita, OK where her father owned land. As a child, Fulson sang in church. He took up the guitar at age 12 influenced by Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Boy Fuller. He played local dances as a teen. Then he moved to Ada, OK and joined a band led by local bluesman Texas Alexander. Then he moved to Gainesville, TX and played dances for a couple of years. He was drafted into the US Navy in 1943. He was stationed in Oakland, CA and that's when Fulson saw T-Bone Walker And decided he wanted to play like him. Fulson settled in Oakland after WWII and played local clubs until Swing Time Records owner Bob Geddins signed him to a record deal and bought him a new guitar and amplifier. Fulson recorded for Swing Time until he signed with the Chess Records label Checker. So now he's on a national label and that's when Reconsider Baby was released and reached #3 on the R&B charts. Fulson wrote the song and Leonard and Phil Chess produced it. Musicians were Paul Drake on piano, Bobby Nicholson on bass and Chick Booth on drums. Plus a horn section with Philip Gilbeaux on trumpet, Phatz Morris on trombone, Julian Beasley on alto and baritone sax and Choker Campbell on tenor sax. But the most important thing about Reconsider Baby is that it was covered by many performers including Elvis Presley in 1960. And that led to other covers of Fulson songs. So that made him a big influence. You can get all of Fulson's Checker recordings on this comp from the reissue label Jasmine Records. Fulson switched to Kent Records in 1962 probably because they were more of an R&B label. His biggest hit for Kent was the 1967 single Tramp which was a big hit for Otis Redding & Carla Thomas. After that, Fulson recorded for smaller labels. But he continued to be a great live performer until he died on Mar. 7, 1999 at age 77. Here's Lowell Fulson performing Reconsider Baby in Los Angeles 1983.