"Big" Maceo Merriweather (March 31, 1905 - February 23, 1953) was a blues p… Read Full Bio ↴"Big" Maceo Merriweather (March 31, 1905 - February 23, 1953) was a blues pianist and singer active in Chicago in the 1940s.
Born Major Merriweather (or Merewether) in Atlanta, Georgia, he taught himself how to play piano. In the 1920s he moved to Detroit and began playing parties and clubs. In 1941, a desire to record led him to Chicago where he met and befriended Tampa Red. Red introduced him to Lester Melrose of Bluebird Records, who signed him to a recording contract.
His first record was "Worried Life Blues" (1941), which promptly became a blues hit and remained his signature piece. Other classic piano blues recordings such as "Chicago Breakdown" followed. His piano style developed from players like Leroy Carr and Roosevelt Sykes, as well as from the boogie-woogie style of Meade "Lux" Lewis and Albert Ammons.
His career was cut short in 1946 by a stroke. However, he was one of the most influential blues piano players of the 1940s and his style had an impact on practically every post-World War II blues pianist of note. His most famous song, "Worried Life Blues" is a staple of the blues repertoire, with artists such as Eric Clapton featuring it regularly in performances.
Big Maceo is also on Last.fm as Big Maceo Merriweather.
Born Major Merriweather (or Merewether) in Atlanta, Georgia, he taught himself how to play piano. In the 1920s he moved to Detroit and began playing parties and clubs. In 1941, a desire to record led him to Chicago where he met and befriended Tampa Red. Red introduced him to Lester Melrose of Bluebird Records, who signed him to a recording contract.
His first record was "Worried Life Blues" (1941), which promptly became a blues hit and remained his signature piece. Other classic piano blues recordings such as "Chicago Breakdown" followed. His piano style developed from players like Leroy Carr and Roosevelt Sykes, as well as from the boogie-woogie style of Meade "Lux" Lewis and Albert Ammons.
His career was cut short in 1946 by a stroke. However, he was one of the most influential blues piano players of the 1940s and his style had an impact on practically every post-World War II blues pianist of note. His most famous song, "Worried Life Blues" is a staple of the blues repertoire, with artists such as Eric Clapton featuring it regularly in performances.
Big Maceo is also on Last.fm as Big Maceo Merriweather.
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The King Of Chicago Blues Piano
Big Maceo Lyrics
Anytime for You I trusted in you right from the start You messed around…
Bye Bye Baby My baby treat me so mean I don't know right from…
Can't you read Way back tale In nineteen hundred and ten The monkey and t…
County Jail Blues They pick me out and put me in the county…
I Got the Blues Just tell me, baby Just tell me, baby What can I…
My Last Go Round Babe, I'm on my last go round and I hate…
Poor Kelly Blues I went up on the mountain to see what poor…
Ramblin' mind blues Well, I woke up this mornin' With ramblin' on my mind Well…
Since You Been Gone I lost a good woman and I grieve both night…
So Long Baby I'm worried in mind, stay worried all the time Someday I'll…
Some Sweet Day Well, the blues is on me now I'll feel better when…
Texas Blues Texas Blues 2:53 Trk 6 (M. Merriweather) Big…
Tuff Luck Blues It's too bad, things are going so tuff with me It's…
Worried life blues When you squeeze me baby You make me hollar whoa whoa…