Jess Willard (musician)

Jess Willard Griffin (born March 28, 1916 in Washburn , Texas , †  May 26, 1959 ) was an American country musician . His most famous title is Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor .

Life

Childhood and youth

Born in Texas, Jess Willard took an early interest in music. His father introduced him to western music and gave him a guitar . When country musician Jack Guthrie came to town in 1938, he taught Willard to play the guitar.

Career

Guthrie was impressed by the young Willard and took him on his next tour. Willard and Guthrie performed together in Amarillo and quickly became friends. When Guthrie got a contract with Capitol Records , Willard went with him to the west coast and accompanied him to various sessions. When Guthrie died of tuberculosis in 1948 , Willard gave up music for some time. He retired until around 1950, but then began performing again.

In 1950, Willard, like Guthrie a few years earlier, signed with Capitol. Lee Gilette, A&R manager for Capitol, had heard Willard Guthrie's big hit Oklahoma Hills sing and summoned him to Los Angeles . Willard's first recording session took place on June 14, 1950 with prominent musicians such as Jimmy Bryant , Cliffie Stone and Tex Atchinson . His 1951 recording of Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor was later covered as a rockabilly by Johnny Horton . The song was actually taken from the piece Jelly Bean Rag by Jack Rivers and in Willard's version did not contain any guitar playing worth mentioning. Instead, Vic Davis' piano became the dominant instrument. Although Willard stayed with Capitol until 1952, he was unable to achieve any hits.

In 1955 Willard went to Ekko, where he also played guitar on some songs by the Cochran Brothers ( Hank Cochran and Eddie Cochran ). With the duo he performed regularly in the California Hayride and went on a tour. In the following years Willard recorded for Kay-Hi and Sundown. His last single was released in the year of his death. Willard died of a heart attack in 1959 at the age of 43 .

Discography

year	title	#	Remarks
Capitol Records
1950	Slippin 'Around With Jolie Blon / New Panhandle Rag
1950	Two Dollar Diamond Ring / Trouble, The Satisfaction
1950	If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time / Little Shoes
1951	One Way Street / Someday You'll Remember
1951	Hang On The Ball and Chain / Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
195?	Oil The Hinges On Your Door / Java Junction
195?	Turn That Gun Around / Mistreated Blues
195?	Truck Driver's Boogie / My Mail Order Mama
195?	Cadillac Blues / Lonesome Dollar Bill
1955	Honky Tonkin 'All The Time / Gonna Take That Fast Train
1955	Saturday Night's For Love / Buy Me A Bottle Of Beer
195?	Drinkin 'At The Bar / Til The Day I Die
Ekko Records
1955	Don't Hold Her So Close / Every Dog Has his Day	1018
Kay-Hi Records
195?	"I'm tellin´you /?
Sundown Records
1959	Cops and Robbers / Night Time Is Cry Time

Web links

• Jess Willard in the All Music Guide
• Jess Willard on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)
• photo