Earl Forest facts for kids

Earl Forest (born December 1, 1926 – died February 26, 2003) was an American musician. He was a talented drummer and singer. Earl was part of a famous group of R&B musicians in Memphis, Tennessee. This group was called the Beale Streeters. Other members included Johnny Ace, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, B.B. King, and Roscoe Gordon. In 1953, Earl Forest had a hit song called "Whoopin' And Hollerin'." It was released on Duke Records. He also recorded music for Meteor Records and Flair Records.

Earl Forest's Life and Music Career

Earl Forest was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 1, 1926. He grew up to become a very important part of the Memphis music scene.

The Beale Streeters: A Group of Friends

By the late 1940s, Earl Forest was playing music around Beale Street in Memphis. He joined a network of musicians known as the Beale Streeters. This wasn't a formal band with a fixed lineup. Instead, it was a group of friends who often played at the same places. They also helped each other out during recording sessions. Famous musicians like Johnny Ace, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, B.B. King, and Roscoe Gordon were all part of this group.

A person named David James Mattis worked at a radio station called WDIA. He was a "scout," meaning he looked for new musical talent. He would go to local shows and invite musicians to play live on the radio. Earl Forest played drums for B.B. King during these radio shows. Pianist John Alexander and saxophonist Adolph "Billy" Duncan also joined them. B.B. King later said this was like his "first little bitty B.B. King band."

Recording Music and Hit Songs

In 1951, Ike Turner helped the Beale Streeters record music. Ike was a "talent scout" and "producer" for Modern Records. This meant he found new artists and helped them make their songs. Earl Forest played drums for Bobby Bland's recordings with Modern Records. These sessions produced songs like "Crying All Night Long" and "Dry Up Baby." Ike Turner played piano on these songs. Billy Duncan played saxophone, and Matt Murphy played guitar.

In 1952, David James Mattis, from WDIA radio, started his own company called Duke Records. He signed many of the Beale Streeters to his new record label. Earl Forest played drums for Bobby Bland's recording session at the WDIA studios. Soon after, Earl Forest recorded his very first song, "Whoopin' And Hollerin'." Johnny Ace played piano on this song.

"Whoopin' And Hollerin'" Becomes a Hit

"Whoopin' And Hollerin'" became a big hit! In April 1953, it reached No. 7 on Billboard magazine's R&B chart. This chart showed the most played songs in jukeboxes. To make the most of the song's popularity, the Bihari brothers released another song by Earl Forest. It was on their record label, Meteor Records. They even credited him as Earl (Whoopin' & Hollerin') Forrest. Later that year, Earl Forest's song "Trouble And Me" was released. It was on a "split single" with Johnny Ace's "Mid Night Hours Journey" on Flair Records. Earl Forest continued to record more songs for Duke Records until the 1960s.

Earl Forest as a Songwriter

Earl Forest was also a talented songwriter. He helped write a very famous blues song called "Next Time You See Me." Many artists recorded this song, including Junior Parker, Frankie Lymon, and James Cotton. He also helped write "Morning After" for the Mar-Keys. This song was released on Stax Records in 1961.

In the 1980s, Earl Forest played with his old friend Bobby Bland again. He played drums on Bobby Bland's 1987 album, Blues You Can Use. Earl also helped write two songs on that album: "Spending My Life With You" and "For The Last Time." He also co-wrote two songs for Little Milton's 1987 album, Movin' To The Country. These songs were "Just Because You See Me Smilin'" and "Room 244."

Earl Forest passed away from cancer on February 26, 2003, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Earl Forest's Music: Discography

This section lists the songs and albums Earl Forest was part of.

Singles

• 1953: "Whoopin' And Hollerin'" / "Pretty Bessie" (Duke R-108) – This song reached No. 7 on the Billboard R&B chart.
• 1953: "I Wronged A Woman" / "I Can't Forgive You" (Meteor 5005)
• 1953: "Last Night's Dream" / "Fifty Three" (Duke 113)
• 1953: "Mid Night Hours Journey" (Johnny Ace) / "Trouble and Me" (Flair 1015)
• 1954: "Out On A Party" / "Oh, Why" (Duke 121)
• 1954: "Your Kind Of Love" / "Ohh, Ohh Wee" (Duke 130)
• 1962: "Memphis Twist" / "Beale Street Popeye" (Duke 349)
• 1963: "The Duck" / "The Crown" (Duke 363)

Albums

Featured Appearances

These are albums where Earl Forest's music was included as part of a collection.

• 1978: Big Blues From Duke & Peacock (Blues Anthology Vol. 2) (ABC Records)
• 1987: Earl Forest Featuring The Beale Streeters With Bobby Bland And Johnny Ace (Ace records)
• 1989: The Original Memphis Blues Brothers (Ace Records)
• 1992: The Best Of Duke-Peacock Blues (MCA Records)
• 2005: Blowing The Fuse 1953 – 29 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox in 1953 (Bear Family Records)
• 2008: Rockin' Memphis (Proper Records)
• 2010: Ike Turner – That Kat Sure Could Play! The Singles 1951–1957 (Secret Records Limited)
• 2012: Johnny Ace – Ace's Wild: The Complete Solo Sides And Sessions (Fantastic Voyage)
• 2017: Ike Turner – Sessionography Vol. 1 (Real Gone Records)

As a Sideman

These are albums where Earl Forest played as a supporting musician for other artists.

• 1981: B.B. King – The Rarest King (Blues Boy)
• 1987: Junior Parker & Roscoe Gordon – Feelin' Good (Sun Record Company / P-Vine Special)
• 1987: Bobby Bland – Blues You Can Use (Malaco Records)
• 1992: B.B. King – King of the Blues (MCA Records)
• 2001: Bobby Bland – The Anthology (MCA Records)
• 2010: Ike Turner – That Kat Sure Could Play! The Singles 1951–1957 (Secret Records Limited)
• 2013: B.B. King – The Indispensable 1949–1962 (Frémeaux & Associés)
• 2013: Little Junior Parker – Feelin' Good – The 1952–1962 Recordings (Hoodoo Records)