BIG MACEO MERRIWEATHER
Maceo Merriweather was in important interpreter of urban piano Blues technique, who helped to transform the rough barrel-house styles of the Southern juke-joints and ‘sporting houses’ into the more sophisticated improvisations heard on the Chicago club scene. Performing solo or in a small band setting, Maceo incorporated the understated good taste of Leroy Carr with the jazz influences of Roosevelt Sykes, over a left hand that could pound the keys or walk a simple stride, depending on the mood. A generous teacher, Maceo influenced a generation of Chicago pianists that continued his work beyond his own career, that was cut tragically short.
Big Maceo sings about his ‘Worried Life’;
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With the departure of Memphis Slim in pursuit of a solo career, Big Bill and Tampa Red needed a pianist for their gigs, and Maceo filled the bill in every way. He could boogie with the best of them, but he could also drag out a slow Blues and his skill as an accompanist with his rock-solid, booming left hand figures, was perfect for a small band. Recording opportunities diminished as the War got under way and Maceo would sometimes return to Detroit to find gigs, but in 1945 Maceo resumed his recording career. The rollicking instrumental ‘Chicago Breakdown’ was among his first recordings and his great singing voice, with sweet, hard or dreamy tones to suit the material, was as versatile as his many piano styles.
‘Chicago Breakdown’ was a big hit and it’s easy to hear why!
[stextbox id=”custom” caption=”Big Maceo Discography” float=”true” align=”left” width=”300″]Big Maceo was never a star, but his playing is immaculate and his voice could handle any kind of song.
KING OF THE CHICAGO BLUES PLAYERS
[/stextbox]In 1946, Maceo suffer a massive stroke that paralysed his right side and effectively ended his career. He cut some vocal tracks in 1947 with Eddie Boyd at the keyboard, and in 1949 Specialty Records had him singing over Little Johnny Jones‘ piano. Otis Spann was also an avid pupil of Maceo’s work and they would sometimes play the South-side clubs together. All three of these great Chicago pianists paid tribute to the generosity of their mentor in sharing his wonderful techniques. Maceo struggled with health issues for the rest of his life, which ended in 1953 when he was 47 years old.