Lefty Dizz

Lefty Dizz
Birth name Walter Williams
Born (1937-04-29)April 29, 1937
Osceola, Arkansas, United States
Died September 7, 1993(1993-09-07) (aged 56)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres Chicago blues, electric blues[1]
Occupation(s) Guitarist, singer
Instruments Guitar
Years active Late 1950s–1993
Labels Isabel, JSP, Black & Blue, Wolf
Associated acts Junior Wells, J. B. Lenoir, Hound Dog Taylor, Johnny Dollar

Lefty Dizz (April 29, 1937 – September 7, 1993)[2] was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer whose recorded work appeared on eight albums.[1]

He is best known for fronting his own band, Shock Treatment, and his work with Junior Wells, J. B. Lenoir and Hound Dog Taylor.[2] One commentator noted that "for wild-ass showmen in blues history ... one would certainly have to go a far piece to beat Lefty Dizz".[1] Dizz favoured a right-handed Fender Stratocaster, which he played with his left hand, hence the first part of his stage name.[3] The derivation of the second part of his stage name is uncertain. According to one source, the name came from his playing the trumpet in the style of Dizzy Gillespie;[3] another source says that Ted Harvey, the drummer for Hound Dog Taylor & the HouseRockers, gave him the nickname in reference to his "playing jazz in the alley".[1]

Dizz was reputedly the brother of the blues musician Johnny Dollar.[4]

Biography

He was born Walter Williams in Osceola, Arkansas.[1] He learned the rudiments of guitar playing while serving for four years in the United States Air Force. Unlike other left-handed players who restrung their instruments to mirror the conventional string order, Dizz played a right-handed guitar upside down, thereby reversing the order of the strings. After his discharge in 1956, he moved first to Detroit and then to Chicago, where he settled permanently. In Chicago he played under the guidance of Lacy Gibson and Earl Hooker. He was proficient enough to join Sonny Thompson's band in 1958. He also worked with Junior Cannady and John Lee Hooker. In a major career move in 1964, he become a member of Junior Wells's backing ensemble. They toured around the world until 1971, when Dizz joined Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers. He remained a member of that band until Taylor's death in 1975. He then formed Shock Treatment. It was with this band that he further developed his flamboyant performing act, which included raunchy jokes as well as his skillful but showy style of guitar playing.[5] His pleasant and joke-filled character was complemented by his intelligence; he received a degree in economics degree from Southern Illinois University.[1]

Dizz performed at Chicago clubs, such as the Kingston Mines, B.L.U.E.S. and the Checkerboard Lounge, and toured internationally. His playing was witnessed by members of the Rolling Stones and Foghat.[1] He played on the recording of Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981 with Muddy Waters and Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood.[6] His studio recordings did not capture the essence of his live performances.[7]

Dizz died from the effects of esophageal cancer on September 7, 1993, at the age of 56.[2]

Discography

Year Title Record label
1979 Somebody Stole My Christmas Isabel Records
1979 Lefty Dizz feat. Big Moose Walker Black & Blue Records[7]
1982 Lefty Dizz and Shock Treatment Live in Chicago Independent[8]
1982 Lefty Dizz and Shock Treatment Live at the Kingston Mines, Volume 1 Independent[8]
1983 Lefty Dizz and Shock Treatment Live at the Kingston Mines, Volume 2 Independent[8]
1995 Ain't It Nice to Be Loved JSP Records[9]
2002 Shake for Me Black & Blue Records
2007 The Healer (Carlos Johnson & Lefty Dizz) Wolf Records[10]

[1]

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Koda, Cub. "Lefty Dizz – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  2. 1 2 3 Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1992 - 1993". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  3. 1 2 Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins – Adrian Room – Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  4. ↑ "Johnny Dollar, Part 2". Bluesmusicnow.com. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  5. ↑ The Chicago Music Scene: 1960s and 1970s – Dean Milano – Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  6. ↑ Leggett, Steve. "Checkerboard Lounge: Live Chicago 1981 – Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  7. 1 2 Koda, Cub. "Lefty Dizz with Big Moose Walker - Lefty Dizz : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  8. 1 2 3 "Jimmie Smith, Blues Guitarist - Store - Lefty Dizz Music". Jimmiesmith.com. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  9. ↑ "Señor Blues: Artist Spotlight: Lefty Dizz". Senorbluesblog.blogspot.co.uk. 2011-03-06. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  10. ↑ "Release: The Healer - Carlos Johnson & Lefty Dizz (May 14, 2007)". Second Hand Songs. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
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