Sunnyland Slim
Encyclopedia
Albert "Sunnyland Slim" Luandrew (September 5, 1906 – March 17, 1995) was an American
blues
pianist
, who was born in the Mississippi Delta
, and later moved to Chicago
, Illinois
, to contribute to that city's post-war
scene as a center for blues music. Chicago's broadcaster
and writer
, Studs Terkel
, said Sunnyland Slim was "a living piece of our folk
history, gallantly and eloquently carrying on in the old tradition."
, near Vance, Mississippi
(some sources erroneously give this date as 1907). He moved to Memphis, Tennessee
in 1925, where he performed with many of the popular blues musicians of the day. His stage name
came from a song he composed about the Sunnyland train that ran between Memphis and St. Louis, Missouri
. In 1942 he followed the great migration
of southern workers to the industrial north in Chicago.
At that time the electric blues
was taking shape there, and through the years Sunnyland Slim played with such musicians as Muddy Waters
, Howlin' Wolf
, Robert Lockwood, Jr., and Little Walter
. His piano style is characterised by heavy basses or vamping chords in the left hand and tremolo
s with his right. His voice was loud and he sang in a declamatory style.
Sunnyland Slim's first recording
was as a singer with Jump Jackson's band on the Specialty label
in September 1946. His first recordings as a leader were on the Hy-Tone and Aristocrat
labels in late 1947. Slim continued performing until his death in 1995.
He released one record
on RCA Victor
using the moniker 'Dr. Clayton
's Buddy': "Illinois Central" b/w "Sweet Lucy Blues" (Victor 20-2733).
In 1988 he was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship
.
Sunnyland Slim died in March 1995 in Chicago, after complications from renal failure
, at the age of 88.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, who was born in the Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
, and later moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, to contribute to that city's post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
scene as a center for blues music. Chicago's broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, Studs Terkel
Studs Terkel
Louis "Studs" Terkel was an American author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. He received the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1985 for The Good War, and is best remembered for his oral histories of common Americans, and for hosting a long-running radio show in Chicago.-Early...
, said Sunnyland Slim was "a living piece of our folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
history, gallantly and eloquently carrying on in the old tradition."
Biography
Sunnyland Slim was born on a farm in Quitman CountyQuitman County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,117 people, 3,565 households, and 2,506 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 3,923 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, near Vance, Mississippi
Vance, Mississippi
Vance is an unincorporated community in Quitman and Tallahatchie counties in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Vance is located on Mississippi Highway 3 northeast of Tutwiler. Vance has a post office with ZIP code 38964....
(some sources erroneously give this date as 1907). He moved to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1925, where he performed with many of the popular blues musicians of the day. His stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
came from a song he composed about the Sunnyland train that ran between Memphis and St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. In 1942 he followed the great migration
Great Migration (African American)
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million blacks out of the Southern United States to the Northeast, Midwest, and West from 1910 to 1970. Some historians differentiate between a Great Migration , numbering about 1.6 million migrants, and a Second Great Migration , in which 5 million or more...
of southern workers to the industrial north in Chicago.
At that time the electric blues
Electric blues
Electric blues is a type of blues music distinguished by the amplification of the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and often the harmonica. Pioneered in the 1930s, it emerged as a genre in Chicago in the 1940s. It was taken up in many areas of America leading to the development of regional subgenres...
was taking shape there, and through the years Sunnyland Slim played with such musicians as Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
, Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf
Chester Arthur Burnett , known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player....
, Robert Lockwood, Jr., and Little Walter
Little Walter
Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs , was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations...
. His piano style is characterised by heavy basses or vamping chords in the left hand and tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
s with his right. His voice was loud and he sang in a declamatory style.
Sunnyland Slim's first recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
was as a singer with Jump Jackson's band on the Specialty label
Specialty Records
Specialty Records was an American record label based in Los Angeles. It was originally launched as Juke Box Records in 1946, but later renamed by its owner Art Rupe when he parted company with a couple of his original partners...
in September 1946. His first recordings as a leader were on the Hy-Tone and Aristocrat
Aristocrat Records
Aristocrat Records, sometimes referred to The Aristocrat of Records, was founded in April 1947 by Charles and Evelyn Aron, together with their partners Fred and Mildred Brount and Art Spiegel. By September Leonard Chess had invested in the young record company. Over time, Leonard bought the others...
labels in late 1947. Slim continued performing until his death in 1995.
He released one record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
on RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
using the moniker 'Dr. Clayton
Doctor Clayton
Doctor Clayton was an American blues singer and songwriter.-Biography:Peter Joe Clayton was born in Georgia, though he later claimed he had been born in Africa, and moved to St. Louis as a child with his family. He had four children and worked in a factory in St...
's Buddy': "Illinois Central" b/w "Sweet Lucy Blues" (Victor 20-2733).
In 1988 he was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship
National Heritage Fellowship
The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts...
.
Sunnyland Slim died in March 1995 in Chicago, after complications from renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
, at the age of 88.