Memphis Slim (September 3, 1915 – February 24, 1988) was an
American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that,
reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxophones, bass, drums,
and piano. A song he first cut in 1947, "Every Day I Have the Blues",
has become a blues standard, recorded by many other artists. He made over 500
recordings.
An amazingly prolific artist who brought a brisk air of
urban sophistication to his frequently stunning presentation, John
"Peter" Chatman -- better known as Memphis Slim -- assuredly ranks
with the greatest blues pianists of all time. He was smart enough to take Big
Bill Broonzy's early advice about developing a style to call his own to heart,
instead of imitating that of his idol, Roosevelt Sykes. Soon enough, other 88s
pounders were copying Slim rather than the other way around; his thundering
ivories attack set him apart from most of his contemporaries, while his deeply
burnished voice possessed a commanding authority. 
After the close of World War II, Slim joined Hy-Tone
Records, cutting eight tracks that were later picked up by King. Lee Egalnick's
Miracle label reeled in the pianist in 1947; backed by his jumping band, the
House Rockers (its members usually included saxists Alex Atkins and Ernest
Cotton), Slim recorded his classic "Lend Me Your Love" and
"Rockin' the House." The next year brought the landmark "Nobody
Loves Me" (better known via subsequent covers by Lowell Fulson, Joe
Williams, and B.B. King as "Everyday I Have the Blues") and the
heartbroken "Messin' Around (With the Blues)."
The pianist kept on label-hopping, moving from Miracle to
Peacock to Premium (where he waxed the first version of his uncommonly wise
down-tempo blues "Mother Earth") to Chess to Mercury before staying
put at Chicago's United Records from 1952 to 1954. This was a particularly
fertile period for the pianist; he
recruited his first permanent guitarist, the
estimable Matt Murphy, who added some serious fret fire to "The Comeback," "Sassy Mae," and "Memphis Slim U.S.A."
Before the decade was through, the pianist landed at Vee-Jay
Records, where he cut definitive versions of his best-known songs with Murphy
and a stellar combo in gorgeously sympathetic support (Murphy was nothing short
of spectacular throughout).
Slim exhibited his perpetually independent mindset by
leaving the country for good in 1962. A tour of Europe in partnership with
bassist Willie Dixon a couple of years earlier had so intrigued the pianist
that he permanently moved to Paris, where recording and touring possibilities
seemed limitless and the veteran pianist was treated with the respect too often
denied even African-American blues stars at home back then.
He appeared on television in numerous European countries,
acted in several French films and wrote the score for À nous deux France
(1970), and performed regularly in Paris, throughout Europe, and on return
visits to the United States. In the last years of his life, he teamed up with
the respected jazz drummer George Collier. The two toured Europe together and
became friends.
After Collier died in August 1987, Slim rarely appeared in public,
although he reunited with Matt "Guitar" Murphy for a gig at
Antone's in Austin in 1987.
After Collier died in August 1987, Slim rarely appeared in public,
Two years before his death, Slim was named a Commander in
the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of
France. In addition, the U.S. Senate honoured Slim with the title of
Ambassador-at-Large of Good Will.
Memphis Slim died on February 24, 1988, of renal failure in
Paris, France, at the age of 72. He is buried at Galilee Memorial Gardens in
Memphis, Tennessee. (Compiled and edited
from All Music & Wikipedia)
