Little Willie John

Induction Year: 1996

Induction Category: Performer

"Inductee: Little Willie John (vocals; born November 15, 1937, died May 26, 1968)

Little Willie John was one of the greatest R&B singers of the Fifties and Sixties. His muscular, full-throated tenor belied his short stature. His impassioned, gospel-style vocals were a precursor to the soul music that emerged in black music in the late Fifties and beyond. Indeed, John’s fervent vocals on such songs as “Need Your Love So Bad,” “Talk to Me, Talk to Me,” “All Around the World,” and “Take My Love (I Want to Give It All to You)” – each a Top Five R&B hit that crossed over to various other charts as well – rank among the best examples of soul singing on record. His signature number was “Fever,” a smoldering, bluesy song that has become a pop-soul standard. “Fever” topped the R&B chart for five weeks in 1956. It was also carried onto the pop chart in faithful versions by Peggy Lee (who took “Fever” to #2), the McCoys (#7) and Rita Coolidge (#76). Madonna covered it in 1992 on her Erotica album.

Born William Edward John in 1937, Little Willie John was only 14 when he sang with Count Basie and won a talent contest sponsored by R&B great . After recording for the Prize and Rama labels, John signed with King Records at age 18 and had his first hit, “All Around the World,” in 1955. Sixteen more R&B hits followed over the next half-dozen years. One of them, “Leave My Kitten Alone,” was later cut by . Musical talent ran in the family, as his sister, Mabel John, was one of singer Ray Charles’ backup singers, the Raeletts, and also had a sizable R&B hit of her own, “Your Good Thing (Is About to End),” in 1966.

That was the year in which John was convicted of manslaughter and sent to Washington State Prison for a fatal knifing incident following a show in Seattle. As tempestuous as he was talented, Little Willie John died in prison of a heart attack two years later. Shortly thereafter, King Records labelmate and fellow soul titan recorded a tribute album, Thinking of Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things.

TIMELINE

November 15, 1937: Little Willie John is born in Cullendale, Arkansas.

1955: After failing to chart with prior recordings on the Savoy, Rama and Prize labels, Little Willie John scores on King Records with “All Around the World” (#5 R&B, #6 pop).

March 1, 1956: Little Willie John records his classic “Fever” at King Records studio in Cincinnati, Ohio. In May, it will enter the R&B chart, which it will top for five weeks.

August 18, 1956: Little Willie John hits #5 on the R&B chart with “Need Your Love So Bad”, #6 on the R&B chart with “Home At Last”, #1 on the R&B chart #24 on the pop chart with (8/18) “Fever” and #10 on the R&B chart with “Letter From My Darling”.

May 26, 1958: Little Willie John hits #5 on the R&B chart and #20 on the pop chart with the King single “Talk To Me, Talk To Me.”

July 21, 1958: Peggy Lee’s faithful cover version of Little Willie John “Fever” enters the Top Forty, where it will peak at #8.

1959: Little Willie John hits #11 on the R&B chart with the Kind records single “Let Them Talk.”

November 14, 1960: Little Willie John hits #10 on the R&B chart and #13 on the pop chart with the King release “Sleep.”

July 31, 1961: Little Willie John’s seventeenth and last hit, “Take My Love (I Want to Give It All to You),” enters the R&B chart.

August 14, 1964: cut Little Willie John’s “Leave My Kitten Alone” at EMI Studios in London. Intended for album ‘Beatles For Sale’ (’Beatles ‘65’ in the US), it was left off and remained unreleased until ‘Anthology 1’ in 1995.

May 18, 1966: Little Willie John is imprisoned after being convicted of manslaughter.

May 26, 1968: Little Willie John dies in Washington State Prison in Walla Walla, WA.

December 19, 1968: releases an album entitled ‘Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things,’ a tribute to his recently deceased friend and King Records labelmate.

January 17, 1996: Little Willie John is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the eleventh annual induction dinner. is his presenter.

Essential Songs

Fever
Need Your Love So Bad
All Around the World
Talk to Me, Talk to Me
Leave My Kitten Alone
Suffering With the Blues
Let Them Talk
Home At Last
Tell It Like It Is
Sleep

Recommended Reading

“Little Willie John: King of Detroit Soul Music.”
Steve Propes. Goldmine (February 13, 1987): 22.

Fever: The Best of Little Willie John. Rhino, 1993
Little Willie John. (Note: The booklet included with this anthology contains biographical and discographical information.)