Walter Vinson
Encyclopedia
Walter Vinson was an American
Memphis blues
guitarist
, singer and songwriter
. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks
, worked with Bo Chatmon and his brothers, and co-wrote the blues standard
, "Sitting on Top of the World
". Walter Vinson is variously erroneously known as Walter Vincson and Walter Vincent, and sometimes recorded as Walter Jacobs, with his mother's maiden name.
, and grew up performing music in his locality. He rarely performed in his whole life on his own, most regularly being part of a duet
, trio
or group
.
He worked alongside Son Spand, Rubin Lacy and Charlie McCoy
in the early to mid 1920s, before teaming up in 1928 with Lonnie Chatmon. They formed the Mississippi Sheiks
. The Sheiks and related groups under other names, such as Mississippi Mud Steppers, the Mississippi Hot Footers and Blacksnakes, recorded about a hundred sides in the first half of the 1930s, among them original compositions (probably by Vinson) such as "The World is Going Wrong" and "I've Got Blood in My Eyes For You" (1931) - both recorded by Bob Dylan
- or the topical "Sales Tax" (1934). Vinson claimed to have composed "Sitting on Top of the World
" one morning, after playing at a white
dance in Greenwood, Mississippi
.
After the Sheiks' split up in 1933, Vinson moved around the United States
, recording
with a variety of musicians, including Leroy Carter and Mary Butler. He moved from Jackson, Mississippi
to New Orleans and ultimately to Chicago
, although by the mid 1940s his appearances in blues club
s had dwindled away. A lengthy break from music saw his re-appearance in 1960. He performed at music festival
s and recorded further tracks over the next decade, before the onset of hardening of the arteries
curtailed his public appearances. Ill health forced his move into a Chicago nursing home
in 1972.
Vinson died in Chicago in 1975 at the age of 74.
In 2004, the Mississippi Sheiks were inducted in the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame
, whilst "Sitting on Top of the World
" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Memphis blues
Memphis blues
The Memphis blues is a style of blues music that was created in the 1920s and 1930s by Memphis-area musicians like Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks
Mississippi Sheiks
The Mississippi Sheiks were a popular and influential guitar and fiddle group of the 1930s. They were notable mostly for playing country blues, but were adept at many styles of United States popular music of the time, and their records were bought by both black and white audiences.In 2004, they...
, worked with Bo Chatmon and his brothers, and co-wrote the blues standard
Blues standard
A blues standard is a blues song that is widely known, performed, and recorded by blues artists. The following list identifies blues standards and some of the blues artists that have recorded them...
, "Sitting on Top of the World
Sitting on Top of the World
"Sitting on Top of the World" is a folk-blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon, core members of the Mississippi Sheiks, a popular country blues band of the 1930s...
". Walter Vinson is variously erroneously known as Walter Vincson and Walter Vincent, and sometimes recorded as Walter Jacobs, with his mother's maiden name.
Biography
Vinson was born in Bolton, MississippiBolton, Mississippi
Bolton is a town in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 629 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Bolton is located at ....
, and grew up performing music in his locality. He rarely performed in his whole life on his own, most regularly being part of a duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
or group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
.
He worked alongside Son Spand, Rubin Lacy and Charlie McCoy
Charlie McCoy
Charles "Charlie" Ray McCoy is an American musician noted for his harmonica playing. In his career, McCoy has backed several notable musicians including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Astor, Elvis Presley and Ween. He has also recorded thirty-seven studio albums, including fourteen for Monument Records...
in the early to mid 1920s, before teaming up in 1928 with Lonnie Chatmon. They formed the Mississippi Sheiks
Mississippi Sheiks
The Mississippi Sheiks were a popular and influential guitar and fiddle group of the 1930s. They were notable mostly for playing country blues, but were adept at many styles of United States popular music of the time, and their records were bought by both black and white audiences.In 2004, they...
. The Sheiks and related groups under other names, such as Mississippi Mud Steppers, the Mississippi Hot Footers and Blacksnakes, recorded about a hundred sides in the first half of the 1930s, among them original compositions (probably by Vinson) such as "The World is Going Wrong" and "I've Got Blood in My Eyes For You" (1931) - both recorded by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
- or the topical "Sales Tax" (1934). Vinson claimed to have composed "Sitting on Top of the World
Sitting on Top of the World
"Sitting on Top of the World" is a folk-blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon, core members of the Mississippi Sheiks, a popular country blues band of the 1930s...
" one morning, after playing at a white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
dance in Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
.
After the Sheiks' split up in 1933, Vinson moved around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 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...
with a variety of musicians, including Leroy Carter and Mary Butler. He moved from Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
to New Orleans and ultimately 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...
, although by the mid 1940s his appearances in blues club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s had dwindled away. A lengthy break from music saw his re-appearance in 1960. He performed at music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s and recorded further tracks over the next decade, before the onset of hardening of the arteries
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
curtailed his public appearances. Ill health forced his move into a Chicago nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
in 1972.
Vinson died in Chicago in 1975 at the age of 74.
In 2004, the Mississippi Sheiks were inducted in the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame
Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame
Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame located in Clinton, Mississippi, honors it's native sons who carried the state's celebrated music heritage. It's a "who's who" of the blues, rock and roll, and jazz from their beginnings to present day.-Blues:...
, whilst "Sitting on Top of the World
Sitting on Top of the World
"Sitting on Top of the World" is a folk-blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon, core members of the Mississippi Sheiks, a popular country blues band of the 1930s...
" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
Discography
| Year of release | Album title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Complete Recorded Works (1928–1941) | Document Records Document Records Document Records is a British record label that specializes in early American blues, bluegrass, gospel, spirituals jazz, and other rural American genres , generally made between 1900 and 1945... |