Willie Kent
Encyclopedia
Willie Kent was an American
blues
singer, bassist
and songwriter
.
, Sunflower County
, Mississippi
.
Although he had played the bass guitar
in Chicago
's clubs
since the 1950s, Kent worked full time until he was over 50 years of age. Following heart surgery
, he stopped work as a truck
driver, and formed a band
. His impassioned singing was deemed similar to both Byther Smith
and John Primer
.
In early 2005, Kent was diagnosed with colon cancer
, but continued his busy live schedule in spite of chemotherapy
treatments. He died in Englewood
, California
in March 2006
.
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...
singer, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
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...
.
Career
Kent was born in InvernessInverness, Mississippi
Inverness is a town in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,153 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Inverness is located at ....
, Sunflower County
Sunflower County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,369 people, 9,637 households, and 7,314 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 10,338 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Although he had played the bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in 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...
's clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
since the 1950s, Kent worked full time until he was over 50 years of age. Following heart surgery
Cardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
, he stopped work as a truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
driver, and formed a band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
. His impassioned singing was deemed similar to both Byther Smith
Byther Smith
Byther Smith is an American blues musician, noted for his gritty style and uncompromising delivery.-Career:...
and John Primer
John Primer
John Primer is an American Chicago blues and electric blues singer and guitarist.-Biography:He played guitar at Theresa's, a club in Chicago, between 1974 and 1980. He was influenced by Muddy Waters' former sideman, Sammy Lawhorn, who taught him to play slide guitar...
.
In early 2005, Kent was diagnosed with colon cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
, but continued his busy live schedule in spite of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatments. He died in Englewood
Englewood, California
Englewood is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located east-southeast of Redcrest, at an elevation of 364 feet .. The area is the site of a few homes and a derelict Eel River Sawmills mill....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in March 2006
Deaths in March 2006
Deaths in 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- →The following is a list of notable deaths in March 2006.-31:*George L...
.
Discography
- 1975 - Ghetto (Storyville RecordsStoryville RecordsStoryville Records is a large international record label based in Copenhagen, Denmark, specializing in jazz and blues music. Besides its original material, Storyville Records has licensed and reissued many vintage jazz recordings that previously appeared on such labels as Paramount Records,...
) - 1989 - I'm What You Need (Big Boy Records)
- 1991 - Ain't It Nice (Delmark RecordsDelmark RecordsDelmark Records is an independent American jazz and blues record label, based in Chicago since 1958. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when owner Bob Koester released a recording of the Windy City Six, a traditional jazz group, under the "Delmar" imprint.-History:Born in 1932 in...
) - 1991 - King of Chicago's West Side Blues (Wolf Records)
- 1993 - Live at B.L.U.E.S. in Chicago (Wolf Records)
- 1994 - Too Hurt to Cry (Delmark Records)
- 1996 - Long Way to Ol' Miss (Delmark Records)
- 1998 - Everybody Needs Somebody (Wolf Records)
- 1998 - Make Room for the Blues (Delmark Records)
- 1998 - Who's Been Talking with Lil' Ed WilliamsLil' Ed WilliamsLil' Ed Williams is an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. With his backing band, the Blues Imperials, slide guitarist Williams has built up a loyal following.-Biography:...
(Earwig Music CompanyEarwig Music CompanyEarwig Music Company is an independent American blues and jazz record label, founded October 1978 in Chicago by Michael Frank.Before setting up his label Michael Frank from 1975 until 1977 had been - like Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records and Jim O'Neal of Living Blues magazine - employed in Bob...
) - 2001 - Comin' Alive! (Blue Chicago Records)
- 2004 - Blues and Trouble (Isabel Records)
Awards and honors
- W.C. Handy Awards: Best Blues Instrumentalist, Bass 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005
- Critics' Choice: Most Outstanding Blues Musician, Bass from Living Blues magazine (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
- Readers' Choice: Album of the Year 2001 from Soul Bag magazine, France, for Comin' Alive
- Critics' Choice: Album of the Year 2001 from Soul Bag magazine, France, for Comin' Alive
- France Blues Award: Best Blues Musician, Bass for the years 2002, 2003
- Chicago's Album of the Year 1998: for Make Room for the Blues
- Library of Congress' Best Blues Recording of the Year 1991: for Ain't It Nice