Elmore Nixon facts for kids

Elmore Nixon (born November 17, 1933 – died June 1975) was a talented American jump blues pianist and singer. He played the piano for many famous musicians on their songs. He also released his own music. Elmore Nixon was known for his lively piano style.

The Life of Elmore Nixon

Elmore Nixon was born in Crowley, Louisiana, in the United States. Not much is known about his very early life. In 1939, when he was about six years old, his family moved to Houston, Texas. He lived in Houston for the rest of his life. It is thought that he learned to play the piano while training for the church.

Starting a Music Career

In October 1947, when Elmore Nixon was just 13, he started his recording career. He played piano for Peppermint Nelson on a song called "Peppermith Boogie." This song was recorded for Gold Star Records. This was the start of a long career for Nixon. For almost ten years, he worked steadily in recording studios. He played for many different record labels.

Elmore Nixon became an important part of a band called Henry Hayes' Four Kings. This group was also known as Henry Hayes Orchestra or Henry Hayes Band. Besides Henry Hayes and Elmore Nixon, the band often included Carl Campbell, Milton Willis, L.C. Williams, Hubert Robinson, Ivory Lee, and Hop Wilson. Elmore Nixon mostly played in a style called jump blues. This style is known for its fast tempo and strong rhythm.

Releasing His Own Music

Elmore Nixon released his first song, "Foolish Love," in 1949. It came out on the Sittin' in With record label. Over the next six years, he released more songs. These were on labels like Peacock, Mercury, Savoy, and Post.

His most successful song was "Alabama Blues," which he wrote himself. Other musicians later recorded this song too. During this time, Nixon also played piano for other artists. He helped record songs for Lester Williams, Hop Wilson, Billy Bizor, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.

Later Years and Touring

In the mid-1960s, Elmore Nixon recorded with the famous musician Clifton Chenier. These recordings were for Arhoolie Records. He also played piano for Lightnin' Hopkins on songs recorded with Jewel Records.

Besides working in the studio, Nixon also toured with his own band. They performed mostly in Texas and Louisiana. In the 1960s, Elmore Nixon also enjoyed playing for audiences in Mexico. He often traveled across the border to perform there.

In 1970, Elmore Nixon had a big surgery. After this, he was not able to be as active. He passed away in June 1975 in Houston, Texas, when he was 41 years old.

See also

• List of blues musicians
• List of jump blues musicians