Sammy Lawhorn
Samuel "Sammy" David Lawhorn (born July 12, 1935 in Little Rock , Arkansas , † April 29, 1990 in Chicago , Illinois ) was an American blues guitarist who, although he never formed a band, was the accompanist to the most recorded blues musicians heard.
life and work
Lawhorn grew up in Little Rock with his grandparents after his parents had moved to Chicago. His first musical impressions were street musicians and blues singers performing in Little Rock such as Lightnin 'Hopkins , T-Bone Walker and Lowell Fulson . Lawhorn's first instrument was a ukulele , later an acoustic guitar , which he got from his mother and stepfather, as the two noticed their son's interest in music and also later contributed the money for an electric guitar.
His musical career began at the age of 15 when he met harmonica player Elmore "Driftin 'Slim" Mickle. Sonny Boy Williamson II brought him to the King Biscuit Radio Show , where he learned the basics of slide guitar from Houston Stackhouse .
Sammy Lawhorn spent the years between 1953 and 1958 in the army. After his release he went to Memphis , where he made recordings with Roy Brown , Eddie Boyd , The Five Royales and with harmonica player Willie Cobbs . In the late 1950s he went to Chicago, where he became a popular musician on the local club scene. He played with Muddy Waters ' Band and on recordings with Big Mama Thornton , John Lee Hooker and Otis Spann .
Lawhorn had problems with alcohol, which affected his music career. In 1973 Muddy Waters fired him and he returned to the clubs. He was also heard on recordings such as James Cotton's Take Me Back and Junior Wells ' On Tap . Years of alcohol abuse ruined his health, and the aftermath of a burglary in which Lawhorn was pushed out a third-floor window contributed to his early death in 1990.
Albums with Muddy Waters
- 1964: Folk Singer
- 1965: Real Folk Blues
- 1967: Brass and the Blues
- 1970: Back in the Good Old Days
- 1970: Goin 'Home: Live in Paris 1970
- 1970: They Call Me Muddy Waters
- 1970: Vintage Mud
- 1971: Dust My Broom
- 1971: London Muddy Waters Sessions
- 1971: Muddy Waters Live (At Mr. Kelly's)
- 1972: Muddy Waters Live
Albums with other artists (selection)
- 1979: Mojo Buford's Blues Summit - Mojo Buford
- 1979: Swinging the Blues - Little Willie Anderson
- 1980: My Soul Is Blue - Johnny Dollar
- 1980: Spoon's Life - Jimmy Witherspoon
- 1981: From the Heart of a Woman - Koko Taylor
- 1987: Take Me Back - James Cotton
- 1976: Sinner's Prayer - Billy Boy Arnold
- 1976: Vacation from the Blues - Eddie Boyd
- 1978: Earthshaker - Koko Taylor
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Lawhorn, Sammy |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Lawhorn, Samuel David (full name); Lawhorn, Sam (alternate nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues guitarist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 12, 1935 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Little Rock , Arkansas |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 29, 1990 |
| Place of death | Chicago , Illinois |