Willie Smith (drummer)

Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (2008)

Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (* 19th January 1936 in Helena , Arkansas ; † 16th September 2011 ) was an American Blues - musician . He became known as a longtime drummer in the band of Muddy Waters .

Career

Smith grew up with his grandparents. Their neighbors included Robert Nighthawk and Pinetop Perkins . At 17, Smith visited his mother in Chicago and stayed in town. He taught himself to play the harmonica and drums and formed a blues trio with Clifton James (drums, harmonica) and Bobby Lee Burns (guitar).

In 1955 he married and gave up music for a short time. As early as 1956 he appeared with Arthur "Big Boy" Spiers and in 1957 with the "Red Devil Trio" from Little Hudson Shower . In 1961 Smith joined Muddy Waters ' band after he had previously played drums in the Muddy Waters Junior Band. In 1980 he was one of the founding members of the " Legendary Blues Band " with Pinetop Perkins , Louis Myers, Calvin Jones and Jerry Portnoy . The band has received a number of Grammy nominations and recorded seven critically acclaimed albums. They played as a companion group with Buddy Guy , Howlin 'Wolf and Junior Wells , and toured with Bob Dylan , the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton . In the film The Last Waltz , they were the band behind Muddy Waters, and Blues Brothers they were playing street musicians, the John Lee Hooker accompanied.

It wasn't until 1995 that Smith recorded his first solo album, Bag Full of Blues , which was followed by more. He also performed with the "Muddy Waters Reunion Band" and the "Legendary Blues Band". From 1996 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2007 he was honored with the Blues Music Award as Blues Drummer of the Year for several years in a row . In 2008 he received the Living Blues Award for best drummer. In 2011 Smith and Pinetop Perkins won the Grammy Award in the category "Best Traditional Blues Album" for the album Joined At The Hip . That same year, on September 16, “Big Eyes” died of a stroke.

tape

• Willie "Big Eyes" Smith harmonica vocals
• Bob Stroger Bass
• Little Frank Krakowski Guitar
• Jimmy Mayes drums
• Kenny Smith drums

Discography

As a band leader

• 1995: Bag Full of Blues Blind Pig
• 1999: Nothin 'But The Blues Y'all Juke Joint
• 2000: Blues from the Heart Juke Joint
• 2004: Bluesin 'It Electro-Fi
• 2006: Way Back Hightone
• 2008: Born in Arkansas

The Legendary Blues Band

• 1981: Life of Ease - Rounder
• 1983: Red Hot 'n' Blue - Rounder
• 1989: Woke up with the Blues - Ichiban
• 1990: Keepin 'the Blues Alive - Ichiban
• 1991: UB Da Judge - Ichiban
• 1992: Prime Time Blues - Ichiban
• 1993: Money Talks - Wild Dog Blues

Web links

• Literature by and about Willie Smith in the catalog of the German National Library
• Willie Smith in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Willie "Big Eyes" Smith website