Willie Cobbs facts for kids

Willie C. Cobbs (born July 15, 1932 – died October 25, 2021) was an American blues musician. He was a singer, played the harmonica, and wrote songs. He is most famous for his song "You Don't Love Me".

Willie Cobbs' Early Life and Music

Willie Cobbs was born in Smale, a small place in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. In 1951, he moved to Chicago, a big city known for its music. There, he sometimes played music in local clubs. He performed with other blues musicians like Little Walter and Eddie Boyd.

In the early 1950s, Willie Cobbs served in the National Guard. After that, he went back to Chicago. He started recording many songs called singles for different record companies.

His Famous Song: "You Don't Love Me"

Willie Cobbs first recorded his song "You Don't Love Me" in 1960. He recorded it for a company called Mojo Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Another record company, Vee-Jay Records, then released the song.

The song sounded a bit like "She's Fine, She's Mine," a song by Bo Diddley from 1955. "You Don't Love Me" almost became a big hit. However, Vee-Jay Records stopped promoting it when people wondered if Willie Cobbs was the only writer.

Many other artists have recorded their own versions of "You Don't Love Me." These are called cover versions. Some famous musicians who covered it include the Allman Brothers Band, Albert King, and Ike & Tina Turner. A rocksteady version by Dawn Penn called "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" became a worldwide hit in 1994.

Later Career and Performances

Willie Cobbs kept recording songs regularly. He released singles for various record labels. He once made a song called "Sing It Low—I'm Black and I'm Poor." This was his way of responding to James Brown's famous song "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud."

In the 1970s, Willie Cobbs moved back to Arkansas. He continued to play music and record for local companies. He also owned and managed several nightclubs in Arkansas and Mississippi during the 1970s and 1980s.

He released an album called Hey Little Girl in 1986. Willie Cobbs performed at popular events like the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival. He also appeared in movies and TV shows. In the 1991 movie Mississippi Masala, he performed two songs. He was also in the 1992 TV movie Memphis with Cybill Shepherd.

In 1994, he signed with the Rooster Blues record label. They released his album Down to Earth. Later, in 1999, he released Pay or Do 11 Months and 29 Days on his own label. The next year, he released Jukin'. His last recordings came out in 2019 on an album called Butler Boy Blues.

Willie Cobbs passed away on October 25, 2021, when he was 89 years old.