Ernest Lawlars

Ernest Lawlars (May 18, 1900 – November 14, 1961)[1] was an American blues guitarist, vocalist, and composer, known professionally as Little Son Joe.[2]

Ernest Lawlars
Also known asLittle Son Joe
Born(1900-05-18)May 18, 1900
Hughes, Arkansas, United States
DiedNovember 14, 1961(1961-11-14) (aged 61)
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, vocalist, composer
InstrumentsGuitar, drums
Years active1930s–1950s
LabelsVocalion, Columbia
Associated actsMemphis Minnie

Early years and Memphis

Lawlars (sometimes spelled "Lawlers" or "Lawlar") was born in Hughes, Arkansas, United States. From around 1931 to 1936 he worked around Memphis with Robert Wilkins, who he accompanied on a recording session in 1935.[1] The same session also produced Lawlers's first recorded side, under the name Son Joe, although this was not issued.[3]

Chicago

By 1939, Lawlars was working with, and married to, Memphis Minnie[4] in Chicago.[2] Their first recording session together, for Vocalion in February 1939, produced six released sides by Lawlers as well as four under Minnie's name.[2] Lawlars recorded in his own right under the name Little Son Joe, but most of his recorded work was as an accompanist to Minnie.[5] In 1942 he had a hit with "Black Rat Swing",[6] billed as “Mr. Memphis Minnie”.[7]

Return to Memphis

Lawlars mostly retired from music from around 1957 because of ill-health,[1] although after moving to Memphis in 1958 he and Minnie had a regular Saturday night gig at the Red Light in Millington, Tennessee,[8] and he played drums on Minnie's final recording session in 1959.[9]

Death

Lawlars died in John Gaston Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, in November 1961 from heart disease, and was buried in the New Hope Cemetery in Walls, Mississippi.[1]

References
  1. Harris, S. (1981): Blues Who's Who. New York, Da Capo Press, pp. 316–7
  2. Garon & Garon 1992, p. 46
  3. Dixon, Robert M W. Godrich, John. Rye, Howard W (1997). Blues and Gospel Records 1890–1943. Oxford: OUP, 4th ed., p. 549
  4. Giles Oakley (1997). The Devil's Music. Da Capo Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-306-80743-5.
  5. Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Guinness, page 2520, (1995) – ISBN 1-56159-176-9
  6. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 13. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  7. Garon & Garon 1992, p. 48
  8. Garon & Garon 1992 p. 77
  9. Garon & Garon 1992 p. 78

Sources
  • Garon, Paul and Beth Garon (1992). Woman With Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues. New York: Da Capo Press, ISBN 978-0306804601.
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