Will Shade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Will Shade
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Shade Jr. |
| Also known as | Son Brimmer |
| Born | February 5, 1898 Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | September 18, 1966 (aged 68) Memphis, Tennessee |
| Genres | Memphis blues |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, harmonica, bullfiddle (washtub bass) |
| Years active | 1927–1966 |
| Labels | Victor Records (1927-1930) Champion-Gennett (1932) Okeh Records (1934) |
William Shade Jr. (born February 5, 1898 – died September 18, 1966), known as Will Shade, was a famous Memphis blues musician. He is best known for leading the Memphis Jug Band. People often called him Son Brimmer. This nickname came from his grandmother, Annie Brimmer. "Son" was a short way of saying "grandson." The name stuck because the sun bothered him, and he used a hat brim to shade his eyes.
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Early Life of Will Shade
Will Shade was born in February 1898 in Memphis, Tennessee. His parents were William Shade and Mary Brimmer. His mother was only fourteen when he was born. In 1903, his father passed away. His mother remarried but became a widow again by 1920.
Will had two half-brothers, Henry and Robert Banks. He often said his mother taught him to play the harmonica. This was the first instrument he learned.
The Memphis Jug Band Story
Discovering Jug Band Music
Will Shade first heard jug band music in 1925. It was a recording by the Dixieland Jug Blowers from Louisville, Kentucky. He was very excited by this new sound. Will thought this music could be popular in his hometown of Memphis.
Forming the Band
He convinced a few local musicians to join him. They were a bit unsure at first. Together, they created one of the first jug bands in Memphis. The first Memphis Jug Band had Will Shade and three other musicians. Lionhouse played the jug, Tee Wee Blackman played guitar, and Ben Ramey played the kazoo.
Will Shade's Musical Talents
Will Shade played the guitar, the "bullfiddle" (which is a washtub bass), and the harmonica. He was especially good at the harmonica. His unique harmonica style influenced many later famous players. These included Big Walter Horton and Sonny Boy Williamson. Will also wrote many of the band's songs. He sang lead vocals on some of their recordings too.
Leading the Band
The Memphis Jug Band had many different members over almost 40 years. They recorded music in various styles, from blues and rags to gospel. Will Shade was always the main person keeping the group together. He found new members to make sure the band kept playing.
The band played both old traditional songs and new songs they wrote. Will tried to copyright his music whenever he could. This meant he owned the rights to his songs. Besides being the band's musical leader, he also handled their business. He planned concerts and shared the money they earned.
Challenges and Later Years
At the band's most popular time, Will Shade worked closely with Victor Records. He was able to buy a house with his wife, Jennie Mae Clayton, who was also a singer. He also bought a good amount of stock in Victor Records. However, he lost both his stock and his house after the Great Depression started in 1929.
The band became less famous in the mid-1930s. This was partly because fewer records were being sold. Also, people started liking different kinds of music, like swing. Changes in Memphis also affected the band.
Later, in the early 1960s, musicians who loved blues music found Will Shade. He was still playing with some of his old bandmates. They made new recordings under the name Memphis Jug Band. During this time, the band often included Will's long-time friend Charlie Burse. Charlie had joined the band in 1928 as a singer and guitarist. Sometimes, his old rival Gus Cannon also played with them. Will Shade also played on Gus Cannon's album, Walk Right In, in 1963.
Will Shade passed away from pneumonia in Memphis in 1966. He was 68 years old. He was buried in Shelby County Cemetery. This cemetery has many unmarked graves, showing that Will was not wealthy in his later years. In 2008, a group of musicians raised money. They bought a headstone for his grave. The same group also helped get a "brass note" for him on the Beale Street walk of fame. This honor was given on August 1, 2009. Will Shade's band was the first jug band to receive this special recognition.
Will Shade's Music Recordings
The Memphis Jug Band recorded almost 100 songs between 1927 and 1934. This made them the most recorded jug band before World War II. In their first four years, they recorded at least 60 songs for Victor Records. Over time, the band's music became more like jazz. This can be heard in their last recordings from 1934. Some of their famous songs include "Lindberg Hop," "On the Road Again," "Newport News Blues," "K.C. Moan," and "Stealin' Stealin'."
See also
