Cleo Page

Cleo Page (May 25, 1928 – February 19, 1979) Little is known of his early life, but it is thought he relocated to Los Angeles by the early 1950s.

In 1956, Page and Otis co-penned the track "Bad Bad Bulldog", which appeared on the B-side of a single credited to 'Little Arthur Matthews Featured with Johnny Otis Orchestra'. His next single was issued in 1972. "Goodie Train - Part One", again credited to Cleo Page alone, was released on Goodie Train Records. This was followed the same year by "Leaving Mississippi" on Las Vegas Records. For added confusion, the vinyl was first released with the lead singer's name incorrectly listed as Frank Hutson.

The activity then seemingly lapsed until 1978 when the risqué worded and double entendre loaded, "Hamburger (All Americans Eat It)" by Cleo Page was issued on Goodie Train Records, and differently billed as "I Love to Eat It - Hamburger" on JSP Records (January 1979). The song was written by Page, who provided both vocals and electric guitar playing and produced the single. In 1979, JSP Records released his album, Leaving Mississippi. Jim DeKoster in Living Blues described the collection as "one of the most striking blues albums of the past year". For an unknown reason, "Hamburger" was not included on the album's track listing.

Conjecture The tracks, "I Believed in a Woman" and "Boot Hill", although credited to Curley Page and Band, reportedly had the vocals supplied by 'Syl Williams'. In the same year that those tracks were released by Dalton Records, a compilation LP Jimmy Witherspoon: Stormy Monday and Other Blues (Sutton Records) was issued containing identical versions of the two tracks. Confusingly, although the LP cover read 'Jimmy Witherspoon: Stormy Monday and Other Blues also Mel Williams, Baby Moses, Sly Williams' neither the front nor back cover of the album, nor the record's label, specified who recorded which track. Presumably, "Boot Hill" and "I Believed in a Woman" were by Sly Williams. Blues historians have argued various viewpoints, primarily that 'Sly Williams' may be Cleo Page, whilst others stated that the artist was aurally similar to Clarence Samuels, and others postulated that 'Sly Williams' was probably Jesse Allen. In the latter's case, the songwriter is listed as 'Unknown'.

Discography Albums Year Title Record label 1979 Leaving Mississippi JSP Records / P-Vine Records 2022 Black Man - Too Tough to Die ADS Records

Singles Year Title Credit Record label 1955 "Aline" C. Page Orchestra with Ernest Johns Federal Records 1958 "East Imperial" Curley Page and Band Dalton Records 1963 "I Believed in a Woman" / "Boot Hill" Curley Page and Band Dalton Records 1971 "Black Man - Part One (Too Tough to Die)" Cleo Page Wonder Records 1972 "Goodie Train - Part One" Cleo Page Goodie Train Records 1972 "Leaving Mississippi" Cleo Page Las Vegas Records 1978 "Hamburger (All Americans Eat It)" Cleo Page Goodie Train Records 1979 "I Love to Eat It - Hamburger" Cleo Page JSP Records