Willie Kent

Willie Kent (September 24(Correction: born February 24th see Social Security index) 1936 – March 2 2006 [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article701960.eceThe Times Online - Willie Kent obituary, dated 5 April 2006] ] ) was an American blues singer, bassist and songwriter. He was born in Inverness, Sunflower County, Mississippi.

Career

Although he had been playing the bass guitar in Chicago's clubs since the 1950s, Kent did not put his music first until he was past the age of 50.cite book
first= Tony
last= Russell
year= 1997
title= The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
edition=
publisher= Carlton Books Limited
location= Dubai
pages= p. 130
id= ISBN 1-85868-255-X] Following heart surgery, he quit his day job driving trucks, and formed a band. His impassioned singing and overall feel of his music are reminiscent of Byther Smith or John Primer.

In early 2005, Kent was diagnosed with cancer, but continued his busy live schedule in spite of chemotherapy treatments. He lost his battle with the disease in March 2006. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wpfixqy5ldde~T1 All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008] ]

Discography

*1975 - "Ghetto" (Storyville Records)
*1989 - "I'm What You Need" (Big Boy Records)
*1991 - "Ain't It Nice" (Delmark Records)
*1991 - "King of Chicago's West Side Blues" (Wolf Records)
*1993 - "Live at B.L.U.E.S. in Chicago" (Wolf Records)
*1994 - "Too Hurt to Cry" (Delmark Records)
*1996 - "Long Way to Ol' Miss" (Delmark Records)
*1998 - "Everybody Needs Somebody" (Wolf Records)
*1998 - "Make Room for the Blues" (Delmark Records)
*1998 - "Who's Been Talking with Lil Ed Williams" (Earwig Music Company)
*2001 - "Comin' Alive!" (Blue Chicago Records)
*2004 - "Blues and Trouble" (Isabel Records)

Awards and Honors

* W.C. Handy Awards: Best Blues Instrumentalist, Bass 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005
* Critics' Choice: Most Outstanding Blues Musician, Bass from Living Blues magazine (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
* Readers' Choice: Album of the Year 2001 from Soul Bag magazine, France, for "Comin' Alive"
* Critics' Choice: Album of the Year 2001 from Soul Bag magazine, France, for "Comin’ Alive"
* France Blues Award: Best Blues Musician, Bass for the years 2002, 2003
* Chicago's Album of the Year 1998: for "Make Room for the Blues"
* Library of Congress' Best Blues Recording of the Year 1991: for "Ain't It Nice"

ee also

*Chicago blues

References