Memphis Slim

Blues legend Memphis Slim combined the barrelhouse/boogie-woogie piano style of the pre-war era with a post-war sophistication. A prolific songwriter, his best-known composition, "Every Day I Have The Blues," has become a standard, covered by Count Basie and B.B. King, amongst others. Slim began his career in 1934, but made his name after relocating to Chicago at the end of the decade. In 1940, became the regular accompanist to Big Bill Broonzy before forming his own group in '44, scoring an R&B number 1 with "Messin’ Around." A string of successful singles followed. After successful appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival, Slim moved to Paris in '61, recording and touring Europe extensively until his death in 1988.