Z.Z Hill ( born Arziel Hill September 30, 1935, Naples, Texas — died April… Read Full Bio ↴Z.Z Hill ( born Arziel Hill September 30, 1935, Naples, Texas — died April 27, 1984, Dallas, Texas) was a popular charting southern blues singer and guitarist from the late 60's until his death in the mid 1980s. He made recordings released on a variety of labels, including Kent, M.H, Capricorn, Quinvy, Atlantic, Mankind, Hill, United Artists Columbia and later Malaco.
He started his career as a gospel singer touring Texas with The Spiritual Five in the 1950's but started gigging solo in Dallas in local R&B clubs with the bands of Big Bo Thomas and Frank Shelton. By the mid 60's he was recording soulful rock n roll with an emphasis on bluesy balladry. Z.Z Hill's style is somewhat reminiscent of other southern blues & soul singers like Percy Sledge, Bobby Bland and his biggest influence B.B King, which is supposedly where he got the idea to shorten his name to Z.Z.
He started hitting his commercial stride with early 70's hits including Chokin' Kind, Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes, and Faithful and True. While signed to Columbia, "Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It," spent 18 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart in the summer of 1977. Cheatin' In The Next Room was released in early 1982 and broke into the top 20 nationally, spending a total of 20 weeks on the charts.
His song Down Home Blues helped propel a 1982 album of the same name to stay on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years. Songs like "Someone Else Is Steppin In" and "Open House" have become R&B/Southern soul standards. During his career his songs were generally produced, arranged and/or provided by other talented writers and R&B legends including Lamont Dozier, Swamp Dogg, Dan Penn, Gary U.S Bonds, Denise LaSalle and Allen Toussaint.
Z. Z Hill's career was cut short when he died suddenly of a heart attack, after a road accident in 1984[ at the age of 48.
He started his career as a gospel singer touring Texas with The Spiritual Five in the 1950's but started gigging solo in Dallas in local R&B clubs with the bands of Big Bo Thomas and Frank Shelton. By the mid 60's he was recording soulful rock n roll with an emphasis on bluesy balladry. Z.Z Hill's style is somewhat reminiscent of other southern blues & soul singers like Percy Sledge, Bobby Bland and his biggest influence B.B King, which is supposedly where he got the idea to shorten his name to Z.Z.
He started hitting his commercial stride with early 70's hits including Chokin' Kind, Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes, and Faithful and True. While signed to Columbia, "Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It," spent 18 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart in the summer of 1977. Cheatin' In The Next Room was released in early 1982 and broke into the top 20 nationally, spending a total of 20 weeks on the charts.
His song Down Home Blues helped propel a 1982 album of the same name to stay on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years. Songs like "Someone Else Is Steppin In" and "Open House" have become R&B/Southern soul standards. During his career his songs were generally produced, arranged and/or provided by other talented writers and R&B legends including Lamont Dozier, Swamp Dogg, Dan Penn, Gary U.S Bonds, Denise LaSalle and Allen Toussaint.
Z. Z Hill's career was cut short when he died suddenly of a heart attack, after a road accident in 1984[ at the age of 48.
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Greatest Hits
Z.Z. Hill Lyrics
Cheatin' in the Next Room Cheating in the next room, Making plains to be alone…
Down Home Blues You said your party's jumping And everybody's having a good …
Friday Is My Day Everybody's got a holiday Some got Christmas and New Year's …
Open House At My House I've got a friend that Lives across the street He knows wher…
Please Don't Let Our Good Thing End Honey I love you you know I really do And I…
Right Arm For Your Love Through the years Been my inspiration, you do for me Without…
Shade Tree Mechanic They say your Caddy ain't been driven right They say you…
Someone Else Is Steppin' In I came home this morning And oh, what a shock When I…
Stop You from Givin' Me the Blues You know I tried to treat you right But you stayed…
Three Into Two Won't Go Lord, have mercy I′m tired of meeting you in secret places …