Page 68 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2018

Rose Reed / Jimmy Reed to school and on holidays. I loved Valentine’s Day because he
Jimmy Reed’s impact on Chicago and the African American would bring so much candy to the house, then come over and
culture is incomparable. His career was explosive, dynamic kiss and bite my cheeks,” remembers Marion.
and crossed many genres from blues to soul to pop, and he Little Walter had become a star, but the light went out much
inspired many great rock ‘n roll musicians as well. Eleven of his too early. At only 36 years old, he was killed in a street fight.
records made the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart, 14 on the R&B It was a very emotional time for his young daughter, just 10
charts and countless renowned musicians covered his tunes. years old.
Perhaps, though, the most inspiration and impact he had was It has become Marion’s mission to keep her father’s legacy
being a father. alive. “Now it’s my turn to keep his music alive through the
Rose Reed is one of eight children of Jimmy and Mary foundation.” The Rolling Stones tipped their hat to Little Walter on
Reed. She remembers the love that flowed through her house the Grammy-winning album this past January when the Stones
– playing games, learning to ride bikes on the unfinished Dan won for Best Traditional Blues album, titled Blue and Lonesome,
Ryan highway, cooking holiday meals – all among kids, church which features Little Walter’s tracks, “Blue and Lonesome,” “Hate
members, family and musicians that stopped by. to See You Go,” “Just Your Fool” and “I Gotta Go.” The City of
The kids were upstairs while jam sessions were in the Chicago will also honor Little Walter this summer at Chicago
basement. “It was a variety of players that came over. John Brill Blues Festival.
was always there. People would come over to play, to visit and
eat. My mom was always there taking care of us kids and the Teeny Tucker /
musicians. She sang in the background a lot of the time... when Tommy Tucker
Daddy was rehearsing, and at recording sessions too, she would “I’m singin’ the blues
be singing in his ear. She can be heard on his biggest hits like for you, Daddy, and
‘Big Boss Man’ and ‘Bright Lights, Big City.’” everything’s gonna be
alright.” Those are the
The Reed family started the Jimmy and Mary Reed
Foundation. “My sister Loretta, brother Jimmy and I are working words of Teeny Tucker,
the petite and powerful
on a lot of things to keep our daddy’s legacy alive. We are gospel-tinged blues singer
grateful for his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and – yes, she is Tommy’s girl!
1980 Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, as well as multiple songs Teeny’s father is the
that have been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. We are incomparable Tommy
hoping Jimmy Reed will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award Tucker whose hit song
from the Grammys in 2019.” on Checker Records, “Hi-
“Whenever I am on stage performing or giving a sermon in Heel Sneakers,” reached
the ministry I can feel my daddy," said Rose. "He lives inside #1 on a 1964 Cash
me always." Box chart, #11 on the
Daddy's girl Teeny with her father, Tommy Tucker.
Photo courtesy of Teeny Tucker Billboard Hot 100 and
Marion Diaz / Little Walter Jacobs was covered by more
In 1945, a 15-year-old harp player by the name of Marion than 1,000 artists. “Put on your red dress, baby/ Lord, we’re
“Little Walter” Jacobs from Louisiana traveled with David goin’ out tonight” were the lyrics six-year-old Regina (Teeny)
“Honeyboy” Edwards to Chicago. He met Bernard and Idel heard on the radio in her daddy’s Cadillac, blaring from the
Abrams – the owners of Maxwell Street Radio and Records, speakers. “He had just bought his first Cadillac and he picked
which became a well-known sanctuary for musicians – and me up in it. We turned on the radio and there it was, ‘Hi-Heel
made his first recording for the Ora Nelle label in 1947. Little Sneakers,’” said Teeny.
Walter utilized amplification and electronic distortion to explore The little girl Tommy would take to jams and rehearsals in
new effects and not be drowned out by the guitar. By 1948, NYC was smitten with her daddy; she looked up to him as a
Little Walter had joined Muddy Waters’ band, and in 1950, “musical God” and wanted to be in the presence of him and
he had his own hit song, “Juke.” Between 1952 and 1958, he his music. She wouldn’t leave the rehearsals like the other kids.
scored 14 Top Ten hits. Instead, Teeny slept under the Hammond B3 organ when his
In 1953, Little Walter met Armille Williams, who became his band rehearsed.
bookkeeper and managed the business details on the road and Growing up with her mother in Dayton, OH, Teeny unleashed
in the studio. Little Walter and Armille had a daughter, Marion. her soul in church where her God-given voice was embraced.
“My dad was insistent that my mom name me Marion. I’m so Her soulful notes were a hit and she recorded her first gospel
proud to carry on his name and to be the president of the Little song when she was 14 years old.
Walter Foundation. I was Daddy’s little girl. We spent a lot of The turning point from gospel to the blues came when a
time together when he was home, going to the park, taking me European promoter who booked her dad offered to bring Teeny

66 Blues Festival Guide 2018