Little Willie John

William Edward John, known as Little Willie John, was born on November 15, 1937, in Cullendale, Arkansas. He was an American R&B singer who began his career in the mid-1950s. At age four, John's family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he formed a gospel group with his older siblings and performed in talent shows. His breakthrough came when he was discovered by Henry Glover after performing with Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams' orchestra, leading to a contract with King Records in 1955. John released his first single, "All Around the World", which reached number 5 on the Billboard R&B chart. He continued with hits like "Need Your Love So Bad" (1956) and "Fever" (1956), the latter reaching Number 1 on both Pop and R&B charts and selling over a million copies. Other notable songs include "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" (1958) and "I'm Shakin'" (1959). John's career was marked by legal troubles, including arrests for narcotics and assault, leading to his abandonment by King Records in 1963. He was convicted of manslaughter in 1965 and died on May 26, 1968, while incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. Posthumously, John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2014. His influence is evident in covers by artists like Fleetwood Mac and Peggy Lee, as well as tribute albums by James Brown.

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