Willie Mabon

Willie James Mabon (October 24, 1925 – April 19, 1985) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, pianist, and harmonica player. He had two number one hits on the Billboard R&B chart, "I Don't Know" in 1952 and "I'm Mad" in 1953.

Career Mabon was born and brought up in the Hollywood district of Memphis, Tennessee. He moved to Chicago in 1942, by which time he had become known as a singer and pianist. He formed a group, the Blues Rockers, and in 1949 began recording for Aristocrat Records and then Chess Records. topped the Billboard R&B chart for eight weeks. It was one of the most popular releases of its era and was Chess's biggest hit before the successes of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. It was also one of the first R&B hit records to be covered by a leading white artist, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Mabon's original was played on Alan Freed's early radio shows and also sold well to white audiences, crossing over markets at the start of the rock-and-roll era.

Mabon returned to the top R&B slot in 1953 with "I'm Mad" and had another hit in 1954 with the Mel London song "Poison Ivy". He also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. He died in April 1985, after a long illness, in Paris.

Discography I'm a Heart Regulator (Chess, 1981) I'm the Fixer (Original USA Recordings 1963–1964) (Flyright, 1981) Chess Masters (Chess, 1985) The Seventh Son (Charly R&B, 1993) The Chronological Willie Mabon 1949–1954 (Classics 'Blues & Rhythm' series, 2005) I'm the Fixer (The Best of the USA Records Sessions) (Fuel 2000, 2013) Willie's Blues: The Greatest Hits (1952–1957) (Jasmine, 2013) Wow! I Feel So Good (The Complete 1952–1963 Chess, Formal & USA Sides) (Soul Jam, 2021)