Ernest Lawlers

Ernest Lawlars (May 18, 1900 – November 14, 1961) was an American blues guitarist, vocalist, and composer, known professionally as Little Son Joe.

Early years and Memphis Lawlars (sometimes spelled "Lawlers", "Lawler" or "Lawlar") was born in Hughes, Arkansas, United States. From around 1931 to 1936 he worked around Memphis with Robert Wilkins, who he accompanied on a recording session in 1935.

Chicago By 1939, Lawlars was working with, and married to, Memphis Minnie in Chicago. In 1942 he had a hit with "Black Rat Swing", billed as “Mr. Memphis Minnie”.

Return to Memphis Lawlars mostly retired from music from around 1957 because of ill-health, and he played drums on Minnie's final recording session in 1959.

Death Lawlars died in John Gaston Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, in November 1961 from heart disease, and was buried in the New Hope Cemetery in Walls, Mississippi.