Sonny Forriest
Encyclopedia
Sonny Forriest was born Elbert McKinley Forriest on May 21, 1934 in Pendleton, North Carolina
and died on January 10, 1999 in Capital Heights, Maryland
. He was an American guitar player
. He is best known for playing guitar for The Coasters
.
, Forriest served in the United States Air Force
. From 1959 through 1961, he played guitar with The Coasters
on such recordings as "Besame Mucho," "Wake Me, Shake Me," "Shoppin' For Clothes," "Thumbin' A Ride," "Girls Girls Girls," "Ridin' Hood," and "Lady Like." He joined the Ray Charles Orchestra in 1962
. Forriest recorded four songs for Verve Records
. On September 30, 1963, he recorded "In Trouble" (unreleased) and "Now That I'm Lonely." On October 1, 1963, he recorded "I'm Travelin'" and "Wedding Day" (unreleased). He released a solo jazz album called "Tuff Pickin': The Blue Guitar Of Sonny Forriest And His Orchestra" on Decca Records
in 1965. He has also done studio work for other artists including Ray Charles
and Hank Crawford
.
sonny is hot Jr. is a musician out of New York
and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
who has played with groups such as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
, The Philly Intruders, and The Hearts Of Stone.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and died on January 10, 1999 in Capital Heights, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He was an American guitar player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
. He is best known for playing guitar for The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
.
Biography
During the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Forriest served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. From 1959 through 1961, he played guitar with The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
on such recordings as "Besame Mucho," "Wake Me, Shake Me," "Shoppin' For Clothes," "Thumbin' A Ride," "Girls Girls Girls," "Ridin' Hood," and "Lady Like." He joined the Ray Charles Orchestra in 1962
. Forriest recorded four songs for Verve Records
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
. On September 30, 1963, he recorded "In Trouble" (unreleased) and "Now That I'm Lonely." On October 1, 1963, he recorded "I'm Travelin'" and "Wedding Day" (unreleased). He released a solo jazz album called "Tuff Pickin': The Blue Guitar Of Sonny Forriest And His Orchestra" on Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1965. He has also done studio work for other artists including Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
and Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford
Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. was an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter...
.
sonny is hot Jr. is a musician out of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
who has played with groups such as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American singing group, one of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco...
, The Philly Intruders, and The Hearts Of Stone.
Solo singles
- Diddy Bop/Knock Down (Atco #6157) (1960) (as Sonny Forrest)
- Madame Bootie Green (Red Top #128) (about 1961) (as Sonny Forrest)
- Don't Mess With My Woman/Train (Escort) (1960s)
- Now That I'm Lonely/I'm Travelin' (Verve #10306) (1963) (as Sonny Forest)
- I Got A Woman/Tuff Pickin' (Decca #31888) (1965)
Solo albums
- Tuff Pickin': The Blue Guitar Of Sonny Forriest & His Orchestra (Decca #DL-4716) (1965)
Various artist albums
- The Coasters: One By One (Atco #33-123) (1960) (played guitar)
- Hank Crawford: Mr. Blues (Atlantic #SD-1470) (1967) (played guitar)
- Hank Crawford: Low Flame, High Heat (Label M) (2000) (played guitar)
- Ray Charles: Standards (Rhino) (1998) (played guitar)
- Twistin' Rumble Volume 4 (Twistin Rumble #TR-62014) (includes "Madame Bootie Green")