Memphis Slim Passes February 24th 1988
Born John Len Chatman Sept 3rd 1915 in Memphis,
Mr. Chatman started at the age of 7, playing
the keyboards. Once you listen to Slim's
carefully calibrated piano solos, it makes sense
that Jerry Lee Lewis over in nearby Ferriday
would have heard Slim, as well as Ian Stewart
over in the UK.
Back to Memphis Slim- His mentor was that
old Honeydripper, Roosevelt Sykes. It was
upon moving to Chicago that Slim hooked up
with Big Bill Broonzy. In later years, he
would team up with Willie Dixon for the Newport
Folk Festival, and perform on the same stage
as Muddy Waters at Carnegie Hall.
In the late 60's he made a permanent move to
Paris, where he was, like most blues musicians,
rock'n'roll musicians, (and actors like Jerry Lewis,
and Mickey Rourke), treated as an in-demand artist.
As a pianist, his trademark sound was what
would be the hallmark of rock'n'roll-
a steady rhythm pumped out by the left
hand, and the rolls and flourishes on the
right, in between the vocals. The riffs
were melodic, and masculine, but short,
and he certainly had a long inventory, as
very few of these would be repeated.
"Born With The Blues" is a great album to start off with!
