Lowell Fulson
b. 31 March 1921, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Blues guitarist Lowell Fulson (whose surname is often mistakenly misspelled Fulsom) recorded steadily from 1946 until the late '70s and still performs regularly on the USA and European club circuits. He began his career in his native Oklahoma performing with string bands and backing country blues vocalist Alger ‘Texas’ Alexander in the late '30s. During World War II he was stationed in Oakland, California, where he met record producer Bob Geddins. Following his discharge from the US Navy, Fulson recorded for several labels under the direction of Geddins, including Big Town, Down Beat, Gilt Edge and Trilon. His first hit occurred in 1950 on the Swing Time label when he reworked Memphis Slim's Nobody Loves Me in to Every Day I Have The Blues. At that time his 12-piece orchestra included Ray Charles on piano. Also playing with Fulson around this time was tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Fulson recorded for Aladdin Records in 1953 and then switched to Checker Records, a subsidiary of Chess Records the following year. His first side for that company, Reconsider Baby, was covered by Elvis Presley. Fulson stayed with that company in to the early '60s and then moved to Kent Records, which changed the spelling of his name. Among his biggest hits for Kent were Black Nights in 1965 and Tramp the next year. The latter song, co-written with Jimmy McCracklin, was later a hit for Otis Redding and Carla Thomas. In 1968 Fulson went over to Jewel Records and then for a succession of small labels including Crazy Cajun and Granite. By the early '90s his early work often appeared on reissues, while some of Fulson's new material was only being released on minor labels, such as France's Blue Phoenix Records. However, in 1993 the artist received five WC Handy Awards, including induction in to the Blues Hall Of Fame, for both himself and his song, Reconsider Baby.