Biography of Wynonie Harris

One of the most popular and powerful singers to contribute to the birth of '40s rhythm & blues, Wynonie Harris achieved his greatest hits by rocking long and hard or by making his listeners laugh the same way. His two #1 hits were the Roy Brown-penned "Good Rockin' Tonight" and "All She Wants to Do Is Rock," while other chart records were often in a comic novelty vein. But his nickname was "Mr. Blues" and a blues powerhouse he was, as well as a humorist, showman, and "a profane and raucous individual," in the words of his lifelong friend Preston Love. Many of his 1946-1952 hits were recorded with top-flight jazz accompanists. Harris recorded sporadically afterwards but never again enjoyed the glory or success he'd known as one of the kings of jump blues. ~ Jim O'Neal