Wet Willie is an American rock band from Mobile, Alabama. Their best-known song, "Keep On Smilin'", reached No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1974. Several other of the group's songs also appeared on the singles charts in the 1970s, which utilized their soulful brand of Southern rock.
Drummer Lewis Ross assembled the musicians for a group called "Fox" in the summer of 1969, and after relocating from Mobile, Alabama to Macon, Georgia, home of Capricorn Records, became known as "Wet Willie" in 1970.[1] The band made its name playing Southern rock from 1971 until 1979, producing a number of albums and several charting singles, one of them achieving Top Ten success.[2] They first became known to concertgoers as the opening act for the Allman Brothers Band in 1971, and still perform today. When Jimmy Hall is with the band, it is billed as Wet Willie, otherwise as The Wet Willie Band.
Band membersEdit
The core members of the band during that period were Jimmy Hall, vocals, harmonica, saxophone; Jimmy's brother Jack Hall on bass; John David Anthony on keyboards; Ricky Hirsch on guitar, and Lewis Ross on drums and percussion.[3] Wick Larsen was added as a second guitarist for a brief stay during the Wet Willie II album period. The duo of women singing background vocals dubbed "The Williettes" were a staple of the classic Wet Willie sound that featured Jimmy and Jack's sister, Donna Hall, and Ella Brown Avery.[3] For a short period of time in 1974, the British singer Elkie Brooks joined the band as a backing singer, as did future HonketteLeslie Hawkins. Michael Duke debuted on the album Dixie Rock adding keyboards and vocals, and stayed with the band through their tenure in the Southern rock era. A period of personnel and record label changes followed and in 1978 with a new Epic Records contract the new line-up included Jimmy and Jack Hall, Mike Duke, drummer T.K. Lively, and guitarists Marshall Smith and Larry Berwald through 1980. After a brief hiatus the band regrouped in 1990 featuring the siblings Jimmy, Jack and Donna Hall, along with original keyboardist John David Anthony, drummer T.K. Lively and long-time members guitarists Ric Seymour and Ricky Chancey.
RecordingsEdit
Wet Willie put out several albums on Capricorn Records between 1971 and 1977.[3] Along with a "Greatest Hits" album released on Polydor Records, they also released two more final studio albums on Epic Records, although some hits collections and further live recordings have been released as recently as 2006. Perhaps their best-known LP is the 1973 live album, Drippin' Wet, but their main claim to fame is the hit single, "Keep On Smilin,'" which reached No. 10 on the BillboardHot 100.[3] They also enjoyed some other Billboardcharting singles with "Country Side of Life," "Everything That 'Cha Do (Will Come Back to You)", "Leona," and from their Epic Records period, "Street Corner Serenade" and "Weekend" from the LPs Manorisms and Which One's Willie?
Reviewing the 1977 Greatest Hits LP in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote: "Alone among Southern boogiemen, the Willies have avoided country as in c&w for country as in funk, and their rhythm section gets away with it—drummer Lewis Ross and bass player Jack Hall are all juke-joint bump-and-grind. In a better world they'd be rednecks in a soul band, but as it is they're stuck in a group with two problems—singer and songs. (Oops, forgot the guitarist, which isn't hard.) Jimmy Hall supposedly combines Ronnie Van Zant's discretion with Gregg Allman's power, but to me he sounds like a cross between Chris Youlden and Lonesome Dave Peverett—with an authentic accent, of course. And although their one lucky strike has been the reggaeish 'Keep On Smilin',' most of the time they strive fruitlessly for R&B tunes as inescapably elementary as the here-included 'Shout Bamalama' and 'Grits Ain't Groceries.' I guarantee you that Little Milton isn't going to return the favor and cover 'Leona' or even 'Baby Fat.' But maybe Stoney Edwards would do 'Airport.'"[4]
Current formationsEdit
In 2012, Wet Willie released a new live CD Miles of Smiles on the Hittin' The Note Records label. They continue to tour with three original members including original lead singer Jimmy Hall, brother Jack Hall on bass and vocals, sister Donna Hall Foster on vocals, as well as other long time members, drummer T.K. Lively, Ric Seymour on guitar and vocals, Ricky Chancey on guitar and newest member, keyboardist Bobby Mobley.
AchievementsEdit
America’s Music Award from the Alabama Hall of Fame - 1976
Inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame - 2014
willie, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2020, lea. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wet Willie news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Wet Willie is an American rock band from Mobile Alabama Their best known song Keep On Smilin reached No 10 on the U S Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1974 Several other of the group s songs also appeared on the singles charts in the 1970s which utilized their soulful brand of Southern rock Wet WillieOriginMobile Alabama U S GenresSouthern rockYears active1970 1970 1980 1990 presentLabelsCapricorn Epic Hittin the NoteMembersJimmy Hall Jack Hall Donna Hall Foster T K Lively Bobby Mobley Ric Seymour Ricky ChanceyPast membersLewis Ross Ricky Hirsch John David Anthony Wick Larsen Ella Brown Avery Elkie Brooks Leslie Hawkins Mike Duke Marshall Smith Larry BerwaldWebsitewww wbr wetwilliemusic wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Band members 3 Recordings 4 Current formations 5 Achievements 6 Discography 6 1 Studio albums 6 2 Live albums 6 3 Compilation albums 6 4 Singles 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditDrummer Lewis Ross assembled the musicians for a group called Fox in the summer of 1969 and after relocating from Mobile Alabama to Macon Georgia home of Capricorn Records became known as Wet Willie in 1970 1 The band made its name playing Southern rock from 1971 until 1979 producing a number of albums and several charting singles one of them achieving Top Ten success 2 They first became known to concertgoers as the opening act for the Allman Brothers Band in 1971 and still perform today When Jimmy Hall is with the band it is billed as Wet Willie otherwise as The Wet Willie Band Band members EditThe core members of the band during that period were Jimmy Hall vocals harmonica saxophone Jimmy s brother Jack Hall on bass John David Anthony on keyboards Ricky Hirsch on guitar and Lewis Ross on drums and percussion 3 Wick Larsen was added as a second guitarist for a brief stay during the Wet Willie II album period The duo of women singing background vocals dubbed The Williettes were a staple of the classic Wet Willie sound that featured Jimmy and Jack s sister Donna Hall and Ella Brown Avery 3 For a short period of time in 1974 the British singer Elkie Brooks joined the band as a backing singer as did future Honkette Leslie Hawkins Michael Duke debuted on the album Dixie Rock adding keyboards and vocals and stayed with the band through their tenure in the Southern rock era A period of personnel and record label changes followed and in 1978 with a new Epic Records contract the new line up included Jimmy and Jack Hall Mike Duke drummer T K Lively and guitarists Marshall Smith and Larry Berwald through 1980 After a brief hiatus the band regrouped in 1990 featuring the siblings Jimmy Jack and Donna Hall along with original keyboardist John David Anthony drummer T K Lively and long time members guitarists Ric Seymour and Ricky Chancey Recordings EditWet Willie put out several albums on Capricorn Records between 1971 and 1977 3 Along with a Greatest Hits album released on Polydor Records they also released two more final studio albums on Epic Records although some hits collections and further live recordings have been released as recently as 2006 Perhaps their best known LP is the 1973 live album Drippin Wet but their main claim to fame is the hit single Keep On Smilin which reached No 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 3 They also enjoyed some other Billboard charting singles with Country Side of Life Everything That Cha Do Will Come Back to You Leona and from their Epic Records period Street Corner Serenade and Weekend from the LPs Manorisms and Which One s Willie Reviewing the 1977 Greatest Hits LP in Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies 1981 Robert Christgau wrote Alone among Southern boogiemen the Willies have avoided country as in c amp w for country as in funk and their rhythm section gets away with it drummer Lewis Ross and bass player Jack Hall are all juke joint bump and grind In a better world they d be rednecks in a soul band but as it is they re stuck in a group with two problems singer and songs Oops forgot the guitarist which isn t hard Jimmy Hall supposedly combines Ronnie Van Zant s discretion with Gregg Allman s power but to me he sounds like a cross between Chris Youlden and Lonesome Dave Peverett with an authentic accent of course And although their one lucky strike has been the reggaeish Keep On Smilin most of the time they strive fruitlessly for R amp B tunes as inescapably elementary as the here included Shout Bamalama and Grits Ain t Groceries I guarantee you that Little Milton isn t going to return the favor and cover Leona or even Baby Fat But maybe Stoney Edwards would do Airport 4 Current formations EditIn 2012 Wet Willie released a new live CD Miles of Smiles on the Hittin The Note Records label They continue to tour with three original members including original lead singer Jimmy Hall brother Jack Hall on bass and vocals sister Donna Hall Foster on vocals as well as other long time members drummer T K Lively Ric Seymour on guitar and vocals Ricky Chancey on guitar and newest member keyboardist Bobby Mobley Achievements EditAmerica s Music Award from the Alabama Hall of Fame 1976 Inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame 2014Discography EditStudio albums Edit Title Details US AUS 5 Wet Willie Release date 1971 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track Wet Willie II Release date 1972 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track Keep On Smilin Release date 1974 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track 41 Dixie Rock Release date 1975 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track 114 The Wetter The Better Release date 1976 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track 133 Manorisms Release date November 14 1977 Label Epic Formats LP Cassette 8 track 118 93Which One s Willie Release date 1979 Label Epic Formats LP Cassette 8 track 172 denotes releases that did not chartLive albums Edit Title Details USDrippin Wet Release date 1973 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track 189Left Coast Live Release date 1977 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track 191Miles of Smiles Release date 2012 Label Hittin the Note Records Formats CD Compilation albums Edit Title Details USGreatest Hits Release date 1977 Label Capricorn Formats LP Cassette 8 track 158The Best of Wet Willie Release date 1994 Label Polydor Chronicles Formats CD Cassette The Best of Wet Willie 20th Century Masters Millennium Collection Release date 2003 Label Mercury Formats CD Epic Willie The Epic Recordings Release date 2005 Label Acadia Formats CD denotes releases that did not chartSource Allmusic com 6 Singles Edit Year Single US Hot 100 AUS 5 1971 Rock amp Roll Band 1972 Shout Bamalama 1974 Keep On Smilin 10 Country Side of Life 66 1975 Leona 69 Dixie Rock 96 1976 Ring You Up Baby Fat Everything That cha Do 66 1977 Street Corner Serenade 30 411978 Make You Feel Love Again 45 1979 Weekend 29 Ramona References Edit The Official Wet Willie Page Ktb net Retrieved 2007 09 10 Eder Bruce Wet Willie Biography AllMusic Retrieved 2007 03 26 a b c d Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 2664 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s W Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X a b Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 335 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Wet Willie Discography AllMusic Retrieved 2007 03 26 External links EditThe Official Wet Willie Homepage Wet Willie Discography Official Jimmy Hall Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wet Willie amp oldid 1160277603, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
