Louis Myers

Though He Was Certainly Capable Of Brilliantly Fronting A Band Remarkably Versatile Guitarist/harpist LOUIS MYERS 1929.09.18/Byhalia MS - 1994.09.05 Will Forever Be Recognized First And Foremost As A Top-Drawer Sideman And Founding Member Of The Aces The Band That Backed Harmonica Wizard Little Walter On His Immortal Early Checker Waxings. Along With His Older Brother David - Another Charter Member Of The Aces - Louis Left Mississippi For Chicago With His Family In 1941. Fate Saw The Family Move Next Door To Blues Great Lonnie Johnson Whose Complex Riffs Caught Young Louis's Ear. Another Myers Brother Harp-Blowing Bob Hooked Louis Up With Guitarist Othum Brown For House Party Gigs. Myers Also Played With Guitarist Arthur "Big Boy" Spires Before Teaming With His Brother David On Guitar And Young Harpist Junior Wells To Form The First Incarnation Of The Aces Who Were Initially Known As The Three Deuces . In 1950 Drummer Fred Below Came On Board. In Effect The Aces And Muddy Waters Traded Harpists In 1952 Wells Leaving To Play With Waters While Little Walter Just Breaking Nationally With His Classic "Juke " Moved Into The Front Man Role With The Aces. Myers And The Aces Backed Walter On His Seminal "Mean Old World " "Sad Hours " "Off The Wall " And "Tell Me Mama" And At New York's Famous Apollo Theater Before Louis Left In 1954 He And The Aces Moonlighted On Wells's Indispensable 1953-54 Output For States . Plenty Of Sideman Work Awaited Myers - He Played With Otis Rush Earl Hooker And Many More. But His Own Recording Career Was Practically Non-Existent After A Solitary 1956 Single For Abco "Just Whaling"/"Bluesy " That Found Myers Blowing Harp In Walter-Like Style It Wasn't Until 1968 That Two Myers Tracks Turned Up On Delmark. The Aces Reformed During The 1970s And Visited Europe Often As A Trusty Rhythm Section For Touring Acts. Myers Cut A Fine Set For Advent In 1978 I'm A Southern Man That Showed Just How Effective He Could Be As A Leader In Front Of An L.A. Band No Less . Myers Was Hampered By The Effects Of A Stroke While Recording His Last Album For Earwig 1991's Tell My Story Movin'. He Courageously Completed The Disc But Was Limited To Playing Harp Only. His Health Soon Took A Turn For The Worse Ending His Distinguished Musical Career. read less