Big Maceo Merriweather

As with most early Blues musicians, pianist "Big Maceo Merriweather" was self-taught. He developed his piano style by copying players like Leroy Carr and Roosevelt Sykes, as well as from the Boogie-woogie style of Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons.From his birth place in Atlanta, he followed the well trod path of blues musicians to Chicago, where his friend Tampa Red, Introduced him to Lester Melrose who signed him to a recording contract with Bluebird Records.His very first release in 1941 was to become his most famous. "Worried Life Blues" It became a blues hit and his signature piece. He went on to create "Chicago Breakdown", "Texas Stomp", and "Detroit Jump" all now regarded as classic Blues recordsAs with many of his contemporaries, heavy drinking and general poor health was to bring about an early end to his career. He suffered a fatal heart attack and died on February 23, 1953 in Chicago.However, he was an influential blues piano player of the 1940s and his style h ad an impact on practically every post World War II blues pianist of note. It was under Merriweather's influence that Henry Gray went on to play with Howlin' Wolf; Little Walter; Bo Diddley and most other top Blues artists of the era.His most first and famous song, "Worried Life Blues" is a blues classic. It has become one of the most covered Blues songs of all time. Practically everyone of any note has recorded versions of the song, including BB King; Ray Charles and Eric Clapton."Worried Life Blues" was among the first songs inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame "Classic Blues Recordings - along with "Stormy Monday," 'Sweet Home Chicago," "Dust My Broom," and "Hellhound On My Trail." And in 2002 he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Website Design