STAGGER LEE
Lloyd Price
Now I collect versions of Stagger Lee as I have mentioned before and we have looked at some of the origins of the story. My interest came largely due to Mississippi John Hurt who's version was the first I heard as a teenager and is still broadly considered an original and since have sought out many versions (there are by some reckoning as many as 450 I have found over 60!) from Dr John, Archibald, Professor Longhair and of course this fine version from Lloyd Price
On this day in music history: February 9, 1959 - “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts for 4 weeks. Written by Lloyd Price and Harold Logan, it is the biggest hit for the singer, songwriter and bandleader from Kenner, LA. Beginning his recording career in 1952 with the R&B classic “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” (#1 R&B), Louisiana native Lloyd Price records a string of hits for Art Rupe’s Specialty Records until 1954, when he is drafted into the army and serves in the Korean War. When he returns from his tour of duty in 1955, Price departs from Specialty when the label chooses to focus on their new stars Little Richard, and Price’s former valet turned singer Larry Williams (“Bony Maronie”, “Short Fat Fannie”, “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”). The singer decides to start his own record label, KRC Records with business partners Harold Logan and Bill Boskent. The song “Just Because” attracts the attention of ABC-Paramount Records, who offer to release the record nationally, and sign Price to the label. It becomes a solid hit, peaking at number three on the R&B chart and number twenty nine on the pop chart. A year later, Price and Logan write the song “Stagger Lee” which is based on a blues standard originally called “Stack-A-Lee” . The song is performed and recorded under numerous title variations from the 1920’s on. It is written about an African American man named Lee Shelton who was a pimp in St. Louis during the 19th century. The songs’ narrative is about an altercation between Shelton and acquaintance William “Billy” Lyons. The two are drinking in a saloon on Christmas night in 1895, and Billy takes Lee’s Stetson hat, leading the two men to argue, ending with Shelton shooting and killing Lyons. Shelton is convicted of murder and is sent to prison, but is pardoned in 1909, though winds up back in prison in 1911 for robbery and assault, dying in 1912. Writing new lyrics and a new arrangement, Lloyd Price records the song as “Stagger Lee” in late 1958. Released as a single in November of 1958, “Stagger Lee” becomes an immediate smash, climbing the R&B and pop charts simultaneously. Entering the Hot 100 at #94 on December 8, 1958, it climbs to the top of the chart nine weeks later. After the huge success of “Stagger Lee”, Lloyd Price scores more huge hits in 1959 with “Personality” (#1 R&B, #2 Pop) and “I’m Gonna Get Married” (#1 R&B, #3 Pop), in later years is recognized as an R&B and Rock & Roll pioneer. “Stagger Lee” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
The story of Stagger Lee shooting Billy Lyons over a crap game is folklore by now and testament to how the news was made back in the day (as they say) and events such as murders and shootings would become songs and passed around through the towns and cities so it was inevitable that the Chinese whispers effect would distort such details so we have actually no idea what actually happened but there is much research to be done and there is much to intrigue that tenacious if you look
“SHOT IN CURTIS'S PLACE“William Lyons, 25, coloured, a levee hand, living at 1410 Morgan Street, was shot in the abdomen yesterday evening at 10 o'clock in the saloon of Bill Curtis, at Eleventh and Morgan streets, by Lee Sheldon, also coloured.“Both parties, it seems, had been drinking, and were feeling in exuberant spirits. Lyons and Sheldon were friends and were talking together. The discussion drifted to politics, and an argument was started, the conclusion of which was that Lyons snatched Sheldon's hat from his head.“The latter indignantly demanded its return. Lyons refused, and Sheldon drew his revolver and shot Lyons in the abdomen [...] When his victim fell to the floor, Sheldon took his hat from the hand of the wounded man and coolly walked away.” - St Louis Globe-Democrat, December 26, 1895.
Heck he even has his own website by now!
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