James Waynes

about

JAMES "WEE WILLIE" WAYNE Born James Douglas Waynes, 1924, Houston, Texas. James Waynes was credited with that name on his earliest recordings. Later it became James Wayne and from 1955 onwards, Wee Willie Wayne. He was an R&B singer with a distinctive voice, who was discovered in Texas by Bob Shad, the man probably best known to R&R fans as the owner of the Time, Brent and Shad labels in NYC in the late fifties and early sixties. However, Shad started out recording Southern R&B and blues on his Sittin' In With label in 1948. It was for this label that Wayne made his first recording (in Houston) and his only hit: "Tend To Your Business", which reached # 2 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1951. Shad next recorded Waynes at the WGST studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Among the five songs recorded there was the all-time classic "Junco Partner" (subtitled "Worthless Man" on the old 78), which became a local hit. Waynes was then signed by Imperial, who recorded him in New Orleans. Although he was backed by some of the Crescent City's finest session men (Lee Allen, Edward Frank, Justin Adams, Frank Fields), the style on these records is more Texas than New Orleans. After excursions to Aladdin and Old Town, Waynes returned to Imperial in 1955 and recorded "Travelin' Mood" (among others) on May 27, 1955. Both "Junco Partner" and "Travelin' Mood" became standards in the repertoire of many New Orleans musicians, like Dr. John, Professor Longhair, James Booker and Snooks Eaglin. Further records

albums

▥

Soul Jazz Records Presents New Orleans Funk 4: Voodoo Fire In New Orleans 1951-75

▥

Jumping The Shuffle Blues: Jamaican Sound System Classics 1946-1960

▥

Blues Rock Classics

▥

New Orleans Funk 4: Voodoo Fire In New Orleans 1951-75

▥

Born to Hustle

▥

The Black & White Roots of Rock’n’Roll

Jamaica Selects Jump Blues Strictly For You

▥

Soul Jazz Records Presents New Orleans Funk, Vol. 4: Voodoo Fire In New Orleans 1951-1975

▥

New Orleans Funk Vol. 4: Voodoo Fire In New Orleans 1951-75

▥

Soul Jazz Records Presents New Orleans Funk 4: Voodoo Fire In New Orleans 19

▥

Born To Hustle CD1

▥

Black & White Roots of Rock 'n' Roll (Disc 2)