Little Willie John | |
|---|---|
 John circa 1955 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Edward John |
| Born | November 15, 1937 Cullendale, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | May 26, 1968 (aged 30) Walla Walla, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1955–1968 |
| Labels | King Records |
William Edward "Little Willie" John (November 15, 1937 – May 26, 1968)[1][2] was an American R&B singer who performed in the 1950s and early 1960s. He is best known for his successes on the record charts, with songs such as "All Around the World" (1955), "Need Your Love So Bad" (1956), "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" (1958), "Leave My Kitten Alone" (1960), "Sleep" (1960), and his number-one R&B hit "Fever" (1956).[3] An important figure in R&B music of the 1950s, he faded into obscurity in the 1960s and died while serving a prison sentence for manslaughter.[4]
John was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2022, John was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.[5]
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 677. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link].
- ^ Fox, Ted (1983). Showtime at the Apollo. Da Capo. pp. 198–200. ISBN 9780030605338.
- ^ "Dead At 30, Little Willie John Buried In Native Detroit". Jet: 60. June 13, 1968.
- ^ "BLUES HALL OF FAME - About/Inductions". Blues.org. Retrieved March 20, 2022.