TROPICAL JON'S EVOLUTION OF ROCK AND ROLL: LOUIE MYERS, BLUES SIDEMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE!

 Louis Myers - September 18, 1929 – September 5, 1994

Though he was certainly capable of brilliantly fronting a band, the remarkably versatile guitarist/harpist Louis Myers will forever be recognized first and foremost as a top-drawer sideman and founding member of the Aces -- the band that backed harmonica wizard Little Walter on his immortal early Checker hits.

Louis Myers’ family left Mississippi for Chicago when he was two years old. Fate saw that the family move next door to blues great Lonnie Johnson, whose complex riffs caught the young  Louis' ear. Myers also played with guitarist Arthur "Big Boy" Spires  before teaming with his brother, David, on guitar and young harpist Junior Wells, to form the first incarnation of the Aces  (who were initially known as the Three Deuces). In 1950, drummer Fred Below came on board.

In 1952 Little Walter was just breaking nationally with his classic "Juke" AND moved into the frontman role with the Aces. Myers and the Aces backed Walter on his seminal "Mean Old World,"

 "Sad Hours"

"Off the Wall"



and "Tell Me Mama"

Louis Myers & The Aces left Little Walter in 1954 to do more gigs with Junior Wells  

Plenty of sideman work awaited Myers after he left Little Walter; as well as gigging with Junior Wells, he played with Otis Rush, Earl Hooker, and many more. But his own recording career was practically non-existent.  His one 1956 single for Abco "Just Whaling"/"Bluesy" came close,

but he did little to follow up on his solo career.

The Aces, back together during the '70s, played Europe often as a trusty rhythm section for touring acts. Myers cut a fine set for Advent in 1978, (I'm a Southern Man) that showcased his place as a leader . Myers suffered the effects of a stroke during the recording of “Tell My Story Movin’,” his last album for Earwig, his contribution limited to playing harp only.