40:
340:, arranged a session for Emerson. His first single, "No Teasing Around" / "If Lovin' Is Believing" was released in February 1954. He released another single backed by Turner on guitar before leaving his band and joining a group led by
305:
with acts such as Ivory
Mitchell, the Billy Battle Band, and Alfonso Brown Band. Following a spell in one group where the members dressed as outlaws, he picked up the nickname "Billy The Kid".
20:
383:, making records such as "Every Woman I Know (Crazy 'Bout Automobiles)", released a year later but with little commercial success. The song was subsequently covered in 1965 by
1071:
407:
as the recording manager. On the Chess label he recorded "Holy
Mackerel Baby" and a remake of "Woodchuck" which was an earlier Sun single. He also released a single with
598:
466:. Emerson received the 2017 Florida Folk Heritage Award at the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum for his contributions as a songwriter, performer, and producer.
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1101:
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440:
In the late 1970s, Emerson decided to dedicate himself to his religion and compose gospel music. In 2005 he was reported as having a church in
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832:
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1086:
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704:
174:
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984:
345:
293:, on December 21, 1925. He learned the piano in church, playing in various local bands. In 1943, he joined the
1051:
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437:'s debut single as well as his own records. He also continued to play in clubs and on European blues tours.
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After recording for several smaller labels, he formed his own Tarpon
Records in 1966, releasing
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333:
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725:
1968: "I Did The Funky
Broadway (Part 1)" / "I Did The Funky Broadway (Part 2)" (Tarpon 6607)
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978:
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Emerson died at a Tarpon
Springs nursing home on April 25, 2023, at the age of 97.
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900:"Red Hot: The Sun Years, Plus - Billy "The Kid" Emerson | Songs, Reviews, Credits"
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949:"Billy 'The Kid' Emerson, influential blues singer and songwriter, dies at 97"
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214:(December 21, 1925 – April 25, 2023), known during his recording career as
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1965: "I Took It So Hard" / "Every Woman I Know" (Tarpon 6601) reissue
667:
1957: "You Never Miss The Water" / "Do
Yourself A Favor" (Vee-Jay 261)
230:
singer and songwriter turned preacher, best known for his 1955 song, "
651:
1955: "Something For
Nothing" / "Little Fine Healthy Thing" (Sun 233)
427:
394:
369:
361:
716:
1966: "A Dancin' Whippersnapper" / "The Whip (Part 2)" (Tarpon 6602)
988:
664:
1957: "Somebody Show Me" / "The
Pleasure Is All Mine" (Vee-Jay 247)
414:
As a songwriter, Emerson wrote dozens of songs for artists such as
997:
722:
1967: "When It Rains It Pours" / "It Do Me So Good" (Tarpon 6606)
661:
1956: "Tomorrow Never Comes" / "Every Woman I Know" (Vee-Jay 219)
380:
687:
1962: "I Never Get Enough" / "When It Rains It Pours" (Mad 1301)
710:
1965: "I Took It So Hard" / "Every Woman I Know" (Chirrup 0002)
245:
in the early 1950s. He recorded for various labels, including
690:
1963: "The Whip (Part 1)" / "The Whip (Part 2)" (M-Pac! 7207)
592:
Chicago Soul Cellar (Rare Soul
Uncovered from M-Pac! Records)
344:. He stayed with Sun as a songwriter, writing and recording "
700:
1964: "I Took It So Hard / When It Rains It Pours" (USA 777)
645:
1955: "Move Baby Move" / "When It Rains It Pours" (Sun 214)
257:
before forming his own, Tarpon
Records, where he recorded
654:
1956: "Don't Start Me To Lying" / "You Won't Stay Home" (
372:, but was not a commercial success for Emerson himself.
858:"Tarpon Springs to honor 'Billy the Kid' for his music"
827:. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. pp. 322–323.
757:
magazine, # 58, 2005, pp.11-21, Interviews with Emerson
719:
1967: "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" / "Zulu" (Tarpon 6604)
677:
1959: "Holy Mackerel Baby" / "Believe Me" (Chess 1728)
642:
1954: "The Woodchuck" / "I'm Not Going Home" (Sun 203)
635:
1954: "No Teasing Around" / "If Lovin' Is Believing" (
532:
Sun - The Roots Of Rock, Volume 3: Delta Rhythm Kings
1072:
United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War
703:
1965: "Aunt Molly, Part 1" / "Aunt Molly, Part 2" (
680:1959: "I'll Get You, Too" / "Um Hum, My Baby" with
459:. The plus includes his Vee Jay and Chess singles.
308:Emerson received an athletic scholarship to attend
693:1963: "I Get That Feeling" / "Hot Spring Water" (
585:The Complete Sun Singles, Vol. 2: From The Vaults
578:The Complete Sun Singles, Vol. 1: From The Vaults
1013:
597:2001: The Kings of Rhythm featuring Ike Turner:
619:That Kat Sure Could Play! The Singles 1951-1957
265:. He has worked with blues musicians, such as
670:1958: "Give Me A Little Love" / "Woodchuck" (
648:1955: "Red Hot" / "No Greater Love" (Sun 219)
1067:United States Navy personnel of World War II
822:
728:1980: "A Dancin' Whippersnapper" / "Zulu" (
495:
38:
503:The Mar-V-Lus Sound of R&B & Soul
1102:21st-century African-American musicians
1097:20th-century African-American musicians
1014:
795:
748:
746:
543:Sun Records: The Blues Years 1950-1956
237:Emerson began recording after joining
823:Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013).
769:
767:
765:
763:
612:Vee Jay Records - Chicago Hit Factory
477:
356:", which later became a hit for both
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892:
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871:
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848:
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1057:People from Tarpon Springs, Florida
1037:American rhythm and blues musicians
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816:
743:
13:
760:
284:
14:
1113:
1042:American rhythm and blues singers
972:
889:
868:
841:
802:. Psychology Press. p. 303.
564:The Ultimate Sun Blues Collection
403:. Soon afterward Emerson joined
1003:Billy "The Kid" Emerson
994:Billy "The Kid" Emerson
940:
910:
789:
472:
462:Emerson was inducted into the
444:, as Rev. William R. Emerson.
346:When It Rains, It Really Pours
1:
825:Blues – A Regional Experience
736:
557:Black Music Originals, Vol. 4
550:Black Music Originals, Vol. 3
455:of Emerson's Sun recordings,
385:Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
328:, who recruited him into his
94:Tarpon Springs, Florida, U.S.
1032:African-American songwriters
485:Red Hot: The Sun Years, Plus
457:Red Hot: The Sun Years, Plus
320:in 1952. While stationed in
116:Singer, songwriter, preacher
7:
301:he resumed playing around
10:
1118:
796:Komara, Edward M. (2006).
629:
426:, (' Buzzard Luck '), and
310:Florida A&M University
18:
16:Musical artist (1925–2023)
918:"Rockabilly Hall of Fame"
879:"Billy "The Kid" Emerson"
799:Encyclopedia of the Blues
188:
138:
128:
120:
112:
98:
84:
64:
54:
49:
37:
30:
21:Billy Emerson (character)
1047:Songwriters from Florida
775:"Biography by Bill Dahl"
19:Not to be confused with
1087:Vee-Jay Records artists
1062:Kings of Rhythm members
985:Billy "The Kid" Emerson
979:Billy "The Kid" Emerson
521:The Sun Story 1952-1968
514:Red Hot About the Blues
496:Other album appearances
464:Rockabilly Hall of Fame
375:In late 1955 he joined
322:Greenville, Mississippi
314:United States Air Force
312:, but left to join the
291:Tarpon Springs, Florida
275:Sonny Boy Williamson II
220:Rev. William R. Emerson
216:Billy "The Kid" Emerson
78:Tarpon Springs, Florida
32:Billy "The Kid" Emerson
623:Secret Records Limited
212:William Robert Emerson
60:William Robert Emerson
50:Background information
1082:Chess Records artists
885:. September 10, 2021.
587:(Bear Family Records)
580:(Bear Family Records)
348:", later recorded by
218:and more recently as
1052:Singers from Florida
684:'s Band (Chess 1940)
451:released a 33-track
324:, he met bandleader
289:Emerson was born in
263:Matt "Guitar" Murphy
1092:USA Records artists
1077:Sun Records artists
954:The Washington Post
489:Bear Family Records
449:Bear Family Records
947:McArdle, Terence.
922:Rockabillyhall.com
617:2010: Ike Turner:
571:Way After Midnight
478:Compilation albums
442:Oak Park, Illinois
397:on his 1980 album
295:United States Navy
222:, was an American
928:on April 23, 2023
864:. March 30, 2017.
809:978-0-415-92699-7
516:(Titanic Records)
507:President Records
453:compilation album
279:Robert Knighthawk
206:
205:
75:December 21, 1925
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924:. Archived from
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614:(Charly Records)
605:Varèse Sarabande
600:The Sun Sessions
594:(Charly Records)
364:, and later for
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42:
28:
27:
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996:discography at
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862:Tampa Bay Times
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566:(Disky Records)
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377:Vee-Jay Records
358:Billy Lee Riley
342:Phineas Newborn
330:Kings of Rhythm
287:
285:Life and career
243:Kings of Rhythm
209:
201:Phineas Newborn
199:
197:Kings of Rhythm
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44:Emerson in 1979
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982:
981:on Sun Records
974:
973:External links
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834:978-0313344237
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536:Charly Records
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435:Denise LaSalle
424:Wynonie Harris
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208:Musical artist
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92:(aged 97)
88:April 25, 2023
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705:Constellation
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573:(Sun Records)
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559:(Sun Records)
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405:Chess Records
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396:
393:album and by
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391:
386:
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378:
373:
371:
367:
366:Robert Gordon
363:
359:
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350:Elvis Presley
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228:rock and roll
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175:Constellation
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124:Vocals, piano
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113:Occupation(s)
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103:Rock and roll
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67:
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29:
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22:
958:. Retrieved
952:
942:
930:. Retrieved
926:the original
921:
912:
903:
882:
861:
824:
818:
798:
791:
781:December 23,
779:. Retrieved
752:
682:Willie Dixon
618:
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549:
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461:
456:
446:
439:
432:
420:Willie Mabon
416:Junior Wells
413:
409:Willie Dixon
398:
388:
374:
334:talent scout
332:. Turner, a
307:
299:World War II
288:
236:
219:
215:
211:
210:
130:Years active
90:(2023-04-25)
25:
1027:2023 deaths
1022:1925 births
883:Sun Records
525:Sun Records
473:Discography
390:Wooly Bully
338:Sun Records
316:during the
267:Earl Hooker
189:Formerly of
1016:Categories
777:. AllMusic
754:Juke Blues
737:References
400:Borderline
326:Ike Turner
318:Korean War
239:Ike Turner
193:Ike Turner
134:1945–2000s
71:1925-12-21
56:Birth name
932:April 27,
447:In 2009,
428:Buddy Guy
411:'s band.
395:Ry Cooder
387:on their
370:Link Wray
362:Bob Luman
989:AllMusic
904:AllMusic
297:. After
998:Discogs
730:Rooster
656:Vee-Jay
630:Singles
381:Chicago
354:Red Hot
352:, and "
255:Vee-Jay
232:Red Hot
224:R&B
180:Rooster
151:Vee Jay
107:R&B
960:May 2,
831:
806:
610:2004:
590:1998:
583:1995:
576:1994:
569:1992:
562:1991:
555:1989:
548:1988:
541:1984:
530:1976:
519:1974:
512:1997:
501:1967:
483:2009:
277:, and
253:, and
171:Tarpon
163:M-Pac!
139:Labels
99:Genres
80:, U.S.
674:1711)
672:Chess
303:Tampa
251:Chess
156:Chess
1007:IMDb
962:2023
934:2023
829:ISBN
804:ISBN
783:2009
707:148)
697:751)
658:175)
639:195)
368:and
360:and
336:for
261:and
226:and
85:Died
65:Born
1005:at
987:on
732:44)
695:USA
637:Sun
379:in
247:Sun
241:'s
234:."
167:USA
160:Mad
146:Sun
1018::
951:.
920:.
902:.
891:^
881:.
870:^
860:.
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762:^
745:^
430:.
422:,
418:,
281:.
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964:.
936:.
906:.
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23:.
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