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It Is no exaggeration to state that the Blues is one of the most flexible of musical forms. While most people associate this music with despair , the down and out, and the overcoming of adversity, it is also a sanctuary for much humor about the human condition. While the majority of performers only hint at this and even fewer utilize it effectively, hilarity and good times permeate the music of Blues Recording Artist “Chick Willis”. He can, and often does lay down some serious Blues. But his good nature and concern for his audience almost demand that he keep it on the light side. Chick, who currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, was born in 1934 in Cabiness, Georgia. His dad was a railroad man and the Willis family moved to Atlanta when he was about 6 years of age. Although Chick has lived in a lot of Cities and towns throughout the country, to name a few, New York city, Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orlando, Donalsonville, GA. Spartensburg, SC. Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, St Louis, Columbus, MS. And a few more smaller towns in the pursuit of the Blues he seems to always come back to his Georgia roots. He was surrounded by music as a youngster and displayed an early affinity by teaching himself guitar while already having experience with vocals, learned by singing with a gospel group he and his brother and cousins sang with at their family church, and other church gatherings. His early influences included Sam “Lighting” Hopkins, Guitar Slim, T-Bone Walker, and Little Milton in the later years. He became good enough in his late teens to begin working professionally in Atlanta at the old Royal Peacock Club, where he backed or played with a wide variety of talent such as Jackie Wilson, The Five Royals, Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, Nappy Brown, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Reed, and many others at venues ranging from the Apollo Theater to the Magnolia Ballroom. He made his recording debut around this time for the small Ebb record label out of Los Angeles, California.
Chick began working with his cousin, Chuck Willis, a rollicking R&B showman who was later known as the “King of the Stroll”. Throughout the middle 50’s and up until Chuck’s death in 1958, Chick toured incessantly with Chuck’s review all over the country. It was with this band that Chick solidified his concept of a satisfying stage show and emerged from this period with a wealth of valuable experience. Chick has since fronted his own units and become one of the most in-demand performers on the Blues and R&B circuit. His penchant for raucous humor was undoubtedly primed when he gigged in the 60’s with Rudy Ray Moore of “petie Wheatstraw” fame. He even snagged a small part in the movie. He also had a small part in the “Buddy Holly story. In addition to being a first-rate guitarist and vocalist, Chick plays drums, keyboards, harmonica and bass. Sometimes he plays with his tongue, under his legs, behind his back. Anything is possible in his persuit to electrify an audience with his dynamite stage presence. You can often catch Chick strolling through the audience with his wireless guitar, sitting in the ladies laps, standing on tables, even walking the bar, and reminding his audience “It ain’t a dam thang but a party” Yawl. |
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