Air Week: June 10-16, 2024

Memphis Slim dubbed himself the “Ambassador Of The Blues” and for good reason. He spread the gospel of America’s music around the world during his almost 50 year career. This week, Matt The Cat and the “Juke In The Back” take a look at Slim’s prodigious contribution to the genre. He began recording as Pete Chatman (his real name is John Chatman) in 1940 and by the end of the year was already known as Memphis Slim, a name given to him by a producer at Bluebird Records. His prolific career really took off after WWII, when he cut some incredible sides for Miracle Records, a little Chicago independent label. He scored a #1 R&B hit in 1948 with “Messin’ Around,” which is seldom heard or celebrated today. He would enter the R&B lists four more times during the late 1940s and twice in the early ’50s for the Premium and United Labels. Even though the US Senate honored Memphis Slim in the early ’70s with an “Ambassador of Good Will” title, he is hardly recognized today for his important contribution to Blues, Rhythm & Blues and early Rock n’ Roll. Get the story behind the story of Memphis Slim on this week’s “Juke In The Back.”

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