Terry Evans (musician) facts for kids

Terry Evans (born August 14, 1937 – died January 20, 2018) was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was known for his amazing voice in R&B, blues, and soul music. Terry Evans worked with many famous musicians. These included Ry Cooder, Eric Clapton, and John Lee Hooker.

Ry Cooder, a well-known musician, once said that Terry Evans was a great "frontman" (lead singer). From 1994 until he passed away, Evans released seven solo albums. Some of his popular albums were Blues for Thought (1994) and Come to the River (1997). Terry Evans was inspired by blues legends like Elmore James and B.B. King. He also wrote songs that were recorded by other artists, such as Pops Staples.

Terry Evans' Early Life and Career

Terry Lee Evans was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the United States. When he was young, he sang in his local church choir. His parents wanted him to focus only on gospel music. However, Terry also loved listening to mainstream blues musicians.

He started performing semi-professionally with a singing group called the Knights. This group sang without instruments, which is called a cappella. In the 1960s, Terry moved to Los Angeles. There, he learned to play the guitar and began writing songs for other artists.

Writing Songs for Other Artists

Terry Evans wrote songs that became hits for other musicians. For example, Pops Staples recorded his song "Love Is a Precious Thing." Another famous artist, Louis Jordan, recorded Terry's song "Hop, Skip, and Jump."

Even though his songs were popular, Terry found it hard to become famous himself. He even appeared on television, but it didn't lead to big fame.

Working with Bobby King and Ry Cooder

Terry Evans later teamed up with another talented singer, Bobby King. They performed together often in the 1970s. During this time, Terry also worked as a backing vocalist for the well-known musician Ry Cooder.

Terry's voice can be heard on several of Ry Cooder's albums. These include Chicken Skin Music (1976) and My Name Is Buddy (2007). Some of his very last recordings were featured on Cooder's album The Prodigal Son (2018). Terry Evans and Bobby King also released two albums together in 1988 and 1990.

Terry Evans' Solo Career and Later Work

Terry Evans became more widely known through his involvement in the 1986 film Crossroads. His voice was featured on the movie's title song. He also sang "Down in Mississippi" on the film's soundtrack.

After Crossroads, Terry worked with Lloyd Jones on his album Trouble Monkey. Then, in 1994, Terry released his very first solo album, Blues for Thought. This album was produced by Ry Cooder, who also played guitar on it.

Collaborations and Nominations

In 1997, Terry Evans sang backing vocals on the album Journey On by Dutch singer and guitarist Hans Theessink. Terry's 2001 album, Mississippi Magic, was a big success. It was nominated for a Blues Music Award as the "Best Soul Blues Album of the Year."

On his 2005 album, Fire in the Feeling, another famous guitarist, David Lindley, played on a couple of tracks. Terry Evans' last recording was a joint effort with Hans Theessink called Delta Time (2012). A CBC News journalist said that Delta Time was a "transatlantic blues treasure."

In 2014, Terry Evans was featured on a special album called Songs from a Stolen Spring. On this album, his performance of "Dancing in the Street" was combined with a song by Lebanese singer-songwriter Tania Saleh.

Terry Evans passed away on January 20, 2018, when he was 80 years old.

Terry Evans' Albums

Terry Evans released many albums throughout his career, both on his own and with other musicians. Here are some of his main albums:

• Live and Let Live! (1988) – with Bobby King
• Rhythm, Blues, Soul & Grooves (1990) – with Bobby King
• Blues for Thought (1994)
• Puttin' It Down (1995)
• Come to the River (1997)
• Walk That Walk (2000)
• Mississippi Magic (2001)
• Live Like a Hurricane (2003) – a live album
• Fire in the Feeling (2005)
• Visions (2008) – with Hans Theessink
• Delta Time (2012) – with Hans Theessink
• Songs from a Stolen Spring (2014) – a compilation album