Willie James Lyons

Biography Lyons was born in Alabama, United States.

Details of his early life are sketchy, but he had relocated to Chicago, Illinois, by the mid-1950s. In 1971, Willie Kent took up residence at Ma Bea's Lounge in West Madison, Chicago. The house band became known as Sugar Bear and the Beehives, headed by Kent (the Sugar Bear) with guitarist Willie James Lyons and drummer Robert Plunkett. For the next six years, this troupe backed visiting musicians, such as Fenton Robinson, Hubert Sumlin, Eddy Clearwater, Jimmy Johnson, Carey Bell, Buster Benton, John Littlejohn, Casey Jones, and Mighty Joe Young. The house band's proficient playing led to their recording a live album in October 1975 at Ma Bea's, billed as Ghetto.

In the 1970s, Lacy Gibson also played alongside Lyons at the Poinciana on the West Side. In October 1977, Lyons played on Robert "Big Mojo" Elem's album, Mojo Boogie.

In December 1979, Lyons played guitar on Johnny "Big Moose" Walker's album, Going Home Tomorrow. He also appeared on Lefty Dizz's album, Somebody Stole My Christmas. The latter was recorded ten days after Walker's album, but not released until 1980. Lyons solo album, Chicago Woman, was recorded between December 1, and 22, 1979, at the Decca Studio, in Paris, France. The participants on the recording were Lyons on vocals and guitar, Johnny "Big Moose" Walker playing piano with Jimmy Johnson on second guitar, Robert "Big Mojo" Elem on bass guitar, and Odie Payne playing the drums. in addition to covering other blues standards such as "Little Red Rooster" and "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Rock Me Baby". However, Chicago Woman incorporated three of Lyons own compositions; "I've Got Trouble on My Mind", "Groovin' In Paris", plus the title track.

Lyons died on December 26, 1980, in Chicago at the age of 42. An obituary for him appeared in Living Blues magazine (issue No. 50) in early 1981. In 2018 the Killer Blues Headstone Project placed the headstone for Willie James Lyons at Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.

Discography Year Title Record label Notes 1975 Ghetto MCM Records live album with one side by Willie Kent; reissued on CD in 1998 by Storyville Records 1979 Chicago Woman Isabel Records