Little Milton
b. James Milton Campbell Jnr., 7 September 1934, Inverness, Mississippi, USA. Having played guitar from the age of 12, Little Milton (he legally dropped the James when he discovered that he had a brother of the same name on his father's side) made his first public appearances as a teenager in the blues bars and cafes on Greenville's celebrated Nelson Street. He first appeared on record accompanying pianist Willie Love in the early '50s, then under his own name appearing on three singles issued on Sam Phillips's Sun label under the guidance of Ike Turner. Although their working relationship continued throughout the decade, it was on signing to Chicago's Chess/Checker outlet that Milton's career flourished. An R&B-styled vocalist in the mould of Bobby "Blue" Bland and T-Bone Walker, his work incorporated sufficient soul themes to maintain a success denied less flexible contemporaries. Propelled by an imaginative production, Milton scored a substantial hit in 1965 with the optimistic We're Gonna Make It, and followed with other expressive performances, including Who's Cheating Who? (1965) plus the wry Grits Ain't Groceries (1968). Campbell remained with Chess until 1971, whereupon he switched to Stax. That's What Love Will Do returned the singer to the R&B chart after a two-year absence, but despite his appearance in the pivotal Wattstax film, Little Milton was unable to maintain a consistent recording career. A series of ill-fitting funk releases from the late '70s reinforced the perception that the artist is at his peak with blues-edged material, something proved by his excellent contemporary work for the Malaco label.