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 recognised as an R&B and Rock & Roll pioneer. “Stagger Lee” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Now, no I didn't buy this when it came out but it gives me here an excuse to talk about Nawleans and one song in particular. I first heard 'Staggerlee' by Mississippi John Hurt on an album my brother owned, this is incidentally how I came to enjoy the work of John Sebastian and The Lovin' Spoonful who were named after a Hurt song. I collected versions of the story song 'Stagger Lee' over the years and have about thirty versions with my favourites by Professor Longhair and Tuts Washington that I place above all others but this by the equally legendary Lloyd Price is realty worth a listen. 

I am sure much has been written about the apocryphal shooting but I have enjoyed the story via song and the way story telling 'folk' music passed news around areas like the Bayou and New Orleans. Reinterpreting local events and the inevitable side taking, that 'bad man' 'cruel Staggerlee . . . . . . 

thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves




oh and Dr John's version check out 'Gumbo' . . . . . . here live



The Fess!



the first version I heard and with explanatory notes from John . . . .





The Night Was Clear, the True Story of Stagger Lee By Mike Wilhelm
"The night was clear and the moon was yellow and the leaves came tumbling down." 

The real Stagger Lee was St. Louis resident Lee Shelton, born March 16, 1865 and known on the street as "Stag Lee". Shelton was a taxi carriage driver and pimp of a sort known as a "Mack". Macks were known for their flamboyant dress and manner, the prototypes of the modern "gangsta".He shot his friend William "Billy" Lyons following a drunken argument on December 27, 1895. Lyons subsequently died from his injuries. Shelton was tried, convicted and sentenced to prison for the murder and died in prison of tuberculosis on March 11, 1912, just five days shy of his 47th birthday.The crime was immortalized in a number of songs, often depicted as an argument over a game of chance in which "Billy De Lyons" won Stagger Lee's new Stetson hat, usually by cheating. In black folklore Stagger Lee became a mythic hero character of the "trickster" type.The following news article appeared in the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat of December 28, 1895 under the headline "Shot in Curtis's Place". Shelton's name is misspelled in the article as Sheldon."William Lyons, 25, colored, 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 colored."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. Lyons was taken to the Dispensary, where his wounds were pronounced serious.He was removed to the city hospital."At the time of the shooting, the saloon was crowded with negroes. Sheldon is a carriage driver and lives at North Twelfth Street. When his victim fell to the floor Sheldon took his hat from the hand of the wounded man and coolly walked away. He was subsequently arrested and locked up at the Chestnut Street Station. Sheldon is also known as 'Stag' Lee."

mo' here . . . . .