Big Maceo
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Biography
"Big" Maceo Merriweather (March 31, 1905 - February 23, 1953) was a blues pianist and singer active in Chicago in the 1940s.
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Born Major Merriweather (or Merewether) in Atlanta, Georgia, he taught himself how to play piano. In the 1920s he moved to Detroit and began playing parties and clubs. In 1941, a desire to record led him to Chicago where he met and befriended Tampa Red. Red introduced him to Lester Melrose of Bluebird Records, who signed him to a recording contract.
His first record was "Worried Life Blues" (1941), which promptly became a blues hit and remained his signature piece. Other classic piano blues recordings such as "Chicago Breakdown" followed. His piano style developed from players like Leroy Carr and Roosevelt Sykes, as well as from the boogie-woogie style of Meade "Lux" Lewis and Albert Ammons.
His career was cut short in 1946 by a stroke. However, he was one of the most influential blues piano players of the 1940s and his style had an impact on practically every post-World War II blues pianist of note. His most famous song, "Worried Life Blues" is a staple of the blues repertoire, with artists such as Eric Clapton featuring it regularly in performances.
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Top Songs
Total plays on Last.fm over the last 6 months-
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Worried Life Blues - (2:44) - 1,625 playsLyricsOh, lordy Lord, oh, lordy Lord
It hurts me so bad for us to part
But someday, baby
I ain't gonna worry my life any more
So many nights since you went away
- Chicago Breakdown - (2:57) - 1,402 plays
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County Jail Blues - (2:57) - 994 playsLyricsThey picked me up, put me in the county jail
They picked me up, put me in the county jail
They wouldn't let my woman come and post my bail
Now I'm in prison, I've almost done my time
Now I'm in prison, I've almost done my time
- Detroit Jump - (2:50) - 751 plays
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Since You Been Gone - (2:55) - 658 playsLyricsI lost a good woman and I grieve both night and day
I lost a good woman and I grieve both night and day
I get the blues for my baby ever since she been gone away
I'm so unhappy, mama, when I used to be so gay
I'm so unhappy, baby, when I used to be so gay
- Winter time blues - (2:57) - 620 plays
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- I Got the Blues - (2:55) - 592 plays
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- Anytime for You - (2:57) - 596 plays
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- Texas Blues - (2:58) - 467 plays
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- Tuff Luck Blues - (3:05) - 473 plays
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