ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
- Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents a two part edition of his 'Soul Facts Show'
a show that highlights the history of legendary artists and their music. In this edition,
the contiuning story of one the greatest vocalists of all time, Little Willie John.
Part 2 of The Little Willie John Story.
Little Wille John's career was traveling through the speed of thought. Making headline
appearences across the country and appearing on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in 1958 and charting 10 top ten hits. He never looked back.
In the spring of 1957, Willie John met and fell in love with a beautiful Apollo Theater
dancer named Darlynn Bonner and married her in May. They became proud parents
of two sons, William Kevin John and Darryl Keith John. He later brought a house and
moved his family down to Miami, Florida, still headlining nightclub appearences and
throwing lavish downhome barbaque parties, entertaining celebrity friends such as
Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ruth Brown, Dinah Washington and a young up and coming
boxer named Cassius Clay, later known to the world as Muhammad Ali.
The wall of success came tumbling down, starting in August 1964, when Willie John got
into and altercation with a heckler at a nightclub, with a broken bottle, the heckler
threw on stage, while he was performing. Then after his appearence in a Seattle nightclub called the Magic Inn, the weekend of October 17-18 1964, he and a running
partner, went to after hour spot and encounter a conversation with two ladies. One
of the ladies excused herself and just then a six foot two 200 lbs ex-con named
Kendell Roundtree, rudely sat in the young lady's seat. When the lady returned, John
asked the gentleman politely to relinquish her seat back. Some words were exchanged
between the two of them and that's when Roundtree sucker puched Willie, knocking him
to the ground.
Allegedly, John picked up a steak knife and stabbed Roundtree in the chest. He was
pronounced dead at the scene. After 2 travels back and forth to Seattle to settle his
case, during the third visit, the judge convicted Willie John to sentence of 8 to 20 years
with a mininum of 7 1/2. John was tranferred to Washington State prison in Walla Walla.
Two years later on May 26, 1968, the prince and pioneer of soul died under mysterious
circumstances at Washington State Hospital. He was 30 years old.
The legacy of Little Willie John was honored on January 17, 1996, when he was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The ceremony took place at the
Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Stevie Wonder inducted Willie John and spoke
warmly about artistry and talent of the prince of soul. Afterward, Kevin John (Willie John's) and his mother Darlynn John (Willie John's wife) joined the podium with
Stevie Wonder and thank everyone for the recognition and induction of Little Willie John
into the Hall of Fame.
A fantastic book entitled 'Fever , A Fast Life, Mysterious Death and The Birth of Soul
by Detroit author and music historian, Susan Whitall and Kevin John, with a forward
by Stevie Wonder, is a fascinating story on the legendary artist, from his humble
beginnings in show business to his tragic death.
(End Of Part 2) - เพลง
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It's so sad how things ended for Willie John . He influenced so many artists . RIP Willie John.
Needs an Movie About Lil Wille John.🎶🎵🎶 👌
We should’ve had him longer than we did 😩
Mr. Boone you do a great job!!! We're hooked on the history of unhonored great performers. And their lives. Well done. Good job!
Im glad that little Willie John is still remembered and loved by music fans.
Saw "not so little" Stevie Wonder last night in Lost Wages and he did a vocal battle royale with his male backup singer: Keith John, who Steveland Morris revealed to the cheering crowd as Little Willie John's son.
I was floored when he sang "Fever" and sounding just like his old man.
Thank so very much Mike Boone for putting this 2 part history of a very unique, highly influential and a truly awesome singer. Important work. Everybody has been asking who was Keith John's pop. Now they know. Job well done!
Hi Bob! Thanks so much for the kind comments. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
This was great. His son performed the song during the homecoming celebration on School Daze. He's a great singer as well. I see where he gets his talent from now
Yes Unsung needs to do an episode on Little Willie John!!
Thank you for this homage to a great artist! There are so many early r and b artists, that have not received their due recognizition! I love him , Sonny Knight, and Jesse Belvin, and Clyde Mc Phatter!
Little Willie John was the best!!
I just love Little Willie John, I listen to him to this day with great pleasure, thank you.
It's great that our favorite singers be acknowledged for their talent. Thank you for telling the story of Little Willie John.
A play about Little Willie John, called "Need Your Love" had its world premier at the Shelterhouse Theater at Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park on October 30, 2021.
Only found this today for the first time. A great treat as I have been wanting to know more about Little Willie John for a long time.
He was a great singer and so influential - I know James Brown loved his work and was influenced by him - among many others.
Thank you VERY MUCH for posting - so fascinating.
Love, nothing but love for this man and the music he has left us! ❤
Fever is my favorite song by little willie john
Ima young guy but once I heard fever I wanted to hear more.. I have an old soul as I alwayz was told.. but I really enjoy his music.. MAY GOD BLESS you and your family. May you all get what's rightfully deserve for your father..
Amen! I am very thankful that the music outlives the man! To me, his no longer unsung! Thank you for the history lesson, I was born and raised in Detroit and I am so amazed at the talent that sprung from there.
Thank you for a great program. I grew up hearing this mans voice. Please make more thanks.
Much respect, dear Chancellor...I've been writing a book about Cincinnati's music scene (especially with regard to record labels) since '94, and have just released Volume I. Am well into Volume II, and one of the chapters is called "A One-Two Punch." This refers to the initial recordings of LWJ in 1955 and James Brown in '56...Willie for King, and James for King subsidiary Federal. I make the case that Willie was the greatest voice that ever recorded for King (no mean feat), and indeed one of the most gifted and influential talents of the 20th Century. Keep up the AWESOME work on these presentations!!!!!
David Bottoms Hey David! Thanks so much and many blessings on your book.
+Chance B Hello David ... LWJ was my father ... thanks for the kind words! Regards ... "Kajun" John
I love little Willie john,s songs,I bought a lot of his 45,s and an album by him.....chain lover 6.
Many blessings to you and your family during this crazy COVID Chancellor hope all is well!
MY GRANDMA REALLY LOVED LITTLE WILLIE JOHN AND SHE LOVED COTTAGE FOR SALE A BIG BLUE DIAMONDS I LOVE THE WAY HE SIGN SLEEP AND MY BABY'S IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER GUY AND IF I THOUGHT YOU NEEDED ME HE SING GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN REST IN PEACE MY PRECIOUS WILLIE YOU ARE STILL LOVED AND APPRECIATED
I've been on a LWJ kick lately and have to thank you for being the only person (it seems) to have a piece on him worth listening to. There must be a lot more on the work of such a talented artist and vocalist. Some really great songs weren't mentioned but the story of the man and his music needs to be out there for the world to know his story. Thanks again, Mike Boone!
drew ski Hey Drew! Thanks so very much.
Still enjoying these, Mike ... Both part one and part two are excellent.
We are still hoping that UNSUNG will do a show on Little Willie John.
We have over 700 vote of Face book asking for LWJ ...
Anyone that wants to vote should go to the Face book page Little Willie John UNSUNG ... Thanks again, Mike!
LWJ, the man was soo hot Godfather of Soul James Brown was his opening act in the late 50's to early 60's. little unknown trivia.
Seems to be a very talented family. The song, "Take My Love", shown here, was written by LWJ's brother Mertis John. Their sister, Mable John, was signed by Motown/Tamla and Stax Records, plus sang with with Ray Charles as a Raelette. Early on, LWJ and his siblings were in a gospel group The United Five.
Thank you for this well done effort on the life of Little Willie John a great talent
"I'm Shakin'" is one hell of a groove, and one hell of a vocal. My favorite LWJ tune....
We saw a terrific play called Cincinnati King about King records , the label and studio that little Willie John was on. Fantastic
Never started trouble but could finish it.
I love him just beautiful I'm feeling that sleep song.
Hi Kevin...Thanks so much. Once again it was truly an honor to do both stories on your dad LWJ. I do believe that we will reach beyond the vote and
a story will be told on Unsung. God bless.
**Little Willie John Is A **Giant** Willie John!!!!! This Vocalist Of A Singer, Worked Wonders!!!!! He Was A **Soul** Singer….**UnSung**
Thank you MB job well done I was a teenager when LWJ died I don’t remember reading about his death and funeral back then we had Jet/ Ebony for our Black Entertainment News and we had a local news paper named The Florida Star not sure if we were still getting the Pittsburgh courier but I would read them when I could looking for the skinny on Jackie Wilson anyway my favorite song by Mr John was “ Talk To Me” his vocals was pure genius smooth as silk like Sam You Sent Me or a Mr Excitement Doggin Around thanks again my main man and you have that velvet voice as well stay strong
What a sad ending to such a talented guy - KTF
thanks for this! my new fav. what a voice!
LWJ's story seriously needs to be told on Film like the movie Why do fools falls in Love I think LWJ movie Bio story Like Get On Up you know James Brown story, Obviously I really think it would be a better Hit Movie than Why Do Fools Fall in Love. I personally think LWJ's death was obviously a Set Up just like Sam Cooke!
I read in one of Sam Cooke's autobiography that he and LWJ were on very friendly terms. Said Sam was one of the few who could calm him down when his infamous temper went off.
IT'S AMAZING HOW WILLIE JOHN'S VOCAL PROWESS HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN TO HIS SONS....JUST LISTEN TO KEITH SING "I CAN ONLY BE ME" FROM SCHOOL DAZE, AND U KNOW JUST HOW INCREDIBLE WILLIE JOHN'S TALENTS WERE...TO THIS DAY THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF "FEVER" IS ONE OF THE SEXIEST SONGS EVER RECORDED!!
Mike you did a good job with this project thanks for posting as I get to the end of it it make me a little bit sad and that we lost him to soon.
He sounds like a mix of Sam Cooke and Bobby Blue Bland.
Four aces and a wild card Mike. Thanks for the post.
Thanks UncleMike43!
Wonderful job, Mike ... We all love it!!! :)
Sweet.
Although Ace Records released 3 volumes on Little Willie John ("The Early King Sessions", "The King Sessions 1958-1960" & "Heaven All Around Me-The Later King Sessions 1961-1963") all of the volumes were missing several Alternate Takes! Single Versions! Stereo Versions! For example: There are 2 versions of "Fever"...The 1956 version & a 1968 version where King Records added a Strings!: There are at least 2 versions of "Person To Person"; 2 versions of "Talk To Me"...The 'Original' 1958 version that has a male/female backing and a 1963 version that has a more pronounced female backing; There are least 3 versions of "Take My Love"...The Original 1961 version that has a Guitar Solo! A 1965 version with an overdubbed Tambourine & Percussion! A version that appeared on the 1977 album titled "All 15 Of His Chart Hits (1953-1962)" that does not have the background vocals and a Vibe Solo!; There are 2 Versions of "Without A Friend". There is a treasure trove of Stereo Versions and maybe a few Unreleased Recordings. I said all of this to say a Box Set with Little Willie John's Complete King Recordings would be real nice.
Oh Man that was Good! Thank you Chancellor 👍🏼
They should make a movie about his life.
I’m doing some cleaning and ran across a nice photo that my Mother has had for many years....and this photo maybe older than I am....I’m “57” It’s a photo of ( Little Willie John ) Key Club.June 17 but the year is not on the photo. My dad was a local singer and entertainer here in New Orleans so I was thinking he may have met Little Willie John here or some where....and that may have been how my Mother got the photo. I will just ask her 😄
So I decided to google him....and Wow
Thanks so much Kevin !
Thanks for the insight - nicely done. He was one hell of a singer - talent & soul to spare. Regards, '62 Mathew St. (Total Retro Rock)
Thank you for posting this video. I wondered just what happened to Little Willie John.I am new to your shows as of two nights ago and I am greatly appreciating these shows. Much Love form KCMO.
WOW! I like to know what happen in that prison! That big dude made the mistake messing with him! Anyway, my top 3 songs by him are Fever, Leave My Kitten Alone and I'm Shakin'! This little guy had a big voice! By the way Mable John had better records at Stax than Motown, IMO and should have been HUGE!!
thanks for the information about the artists.
cant believe no mention of im shakin probably one of his greatest tracks
good stuff Mike, thanks you, Paisano
What is the background music that is played at the beginning of the videos?
I don't trust "the industry!"
RIP, my brother!😢❤
i used to sing with david, (i believe he's your nephew). amazing how when i hear your dad, i hear similarities in david's voice. talk about genetics.
Nice.
Never started trouble but could finish it
Only video of this guy is merely 26 seconds long
It’s sad. And I don’t know much about him accept the song Fever.
Everyone know that he was MURDED by the prison staff in that prison. Nothing was ever done about it because of his color😢😢
i can't find part one
Oooooh OK ... How are you?
Where's Part 1?
Found it! Thanks. reading the book now
It's funny I just heard a video on here by that name of " Fever" where his two sons describe exactly what happened in regard
To the nightclub incident. They said nothing about a woman he was with having her chair taken by this big Dude, who punched Willie John then W John grabs a knife and stabs him , two completely different stories. Hmm I can't see his son's lying about what happened to their father. I'll have to do some more research. Nevertheless he was an unbelievable singer to me in some songs he sounds like Sam Cooke.
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