The following information comes from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website:
Little Willie John was one of the greatest R&B singers of the Fifties and Sixties. His muscular, full-throated tenor belied his short stature. His impassioned, gospel-style vocals were a precursor to the soul music that emerged in black music in the late Fifties and beyond. Indeed, Johns fervent vocals on such songs as Need Your Love So Bad, Talk to Me, Talk to Me, All Around the World, and Take My Love (I Want to Give It All to You) each a Top Five R&B hit that crossed over to the pop charts as well rank among the best examples of soul singing on record. His signature number was Fever, a smoldering, bluesy song that has become a pop-soul standard. Fever topped the R&B chart for five weeks in 1956. It was also carried onto the pop chart in faithful versions by Peggy Lee (who took Fever to 2), the McCoys (7) and Rita Coolidge (76). Madonna covered it in 1992 on her Erotica album.
Born William Edward John in 1937, Little Willie John was only 14 when he sang with Count Basie and won a talent contest sponsored by R&B great Johnny Otis. After recording for the Savoy, Prize and Rama labels, John signed with King Records at age 18 and had his first hit, "All Around the World, in 1955. Sixteen more R&B hits followed over the next half-dozen years. One of them, Leave My Kitten Alone, was later cut by the Beatles. Musical talent ran in the family, as his sister, Mabel John, was one of singer Ray Charles backup singers, the Raeletts, and also had a sizable R&B hit of her own, Your Good Thing (Is About to End), in 1966.
That was the year in which John was convicted of manslaughter and sent to Washington State Prison for a fatal knifing incident following a show in Seattle. As tempestuous as he was talented, Little Willie John died in prison of a heart attack two years later. Shortly thereafter, King Records labelmate and fellow soul titan James Brown recorded a tribute album, Thinking of Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things.
Inductee Timeline
November 15, 1937
Little Willie John is born in Cullendale, Arkansas.
1955
After failing to chart with prior recordings on the Savoy, Rama and Prize labels, Little Willie John scores on King Records with "All Around the World" (5 R&B, 6 pop).
March 1, 1956
Little Willie John records his classic "Fever" at King Records studio in Cincinnati, Ohio. In May, it will enter the R&B chart, which it will top for five weeks.
August 18, 1956
Little Willie John hits 5 on the R&B chart with "Need Your Love So Bad", 6 on the R&B chart with "Home At Last", 1 on the R&B chart 24 on the pop chart with (8/18) "Fever" and 10 on the R&B chart with "Letter From My Darling".
May 26, 1958
Little Willie John hits 5 on the R&B chart and 20 on the pop chart with the King single "Talk To Me, Talk To Me."
July 21, 1958
Peggy Lee's faithful cover version of Little Willie John "Fever" enters the Top Forty, where it will peak at 8.
1959
Little Willie John hits 11 on the R&B chart with the Kind records single "Let Them Talk."
November 14, 1960
Little Willie John hits 10 on the R&B chart and 13 on the pop chart with the King release "Sleep."
July 31, 1961
Little Willie John's seventeenth and last hit, "Take My Love (I Want to Give It All to You)," enters the R&B chart.
August 14, 1964
The Beatles cut Little Willie John's "Leave My Kitten Alone" at EMI Studios in London. Intended for album 'Beatles For Sale' ('Beatles '65' in the US), it was left off and remained unreleased until 'Anthology 1' in 1995.
May 18, 1966
Little Willie John is imprisoned after being convicted of manslaughter.
May 26, 1968
Little Willie John dies in Washington State Prison in Walla Walla, WA.
December 19, 1968
James Brown releases an album entitle 'Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things,' a tribute to his recently deceased friend and King Records labelmate.
January 17, 1996
Little Willie John is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the eleventh annual induction dinner. Stevie Wonder is his presenter.
