Frankie Lee Sims (Born 30th April, 1917?)

[john poole]

Frankie Lee Sims - probably born one hundred years ago today, 30th April, 1917 in New Orleans*, although in 1969 he told Chris Strachwitz that his date of birth was 29th February, 1906 (which was not in fact a leap year) - contrary to the common practice found for other entertainers, some bluesmen appear to have been in the habit of claiming that they were older than they actually were. He died on 10th May, 1970
viewtopic.php?f=54&t=20077
(* Stefan Wirz has Dallas as his birthplace)

‘What Will Lucy Do?’ (Ace; 1957) - a re-working of his 1953 Specialty recording ‘Lucy Mae Blues’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ONHDSG2BU
The first of his recordings I heard after it was included on a 1965 Guy Stevens compilation for Sue Records - “Pure Blues Volume One”
https://www.discogs.com/Various-Pure-Bl ... se/3928111
One of the few blues albums to include a James Brown track? ( “Pure Blues Volume Two” never appeared, although there was a subsequent Sue LP “We Sing the Blues!” which also included a Frankie Lee track)

‘She Likes to Boogie Real Low’ (Ace subsidiary, Vin; 1958/9)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paZA4GrwMRY

He also played on the tracks recorded for Ace by his drummer Julius “Jimmy” Mullins as
“Mercy Baby” - ‘Marked Deck’ (1957)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b0l21SimpI

He had no further recordings released during the 1960s but some previously unreleased tracks appeared after his passing
http://thehoundblog.blogspot.co.uk/2009 ... -sims.html
https://www.wirz.de/music/simsfrm.htm
http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=5939.0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Lee_Sims

[Adam Blake]

Errol Linton is a big fan. We do Sim's "Walking With Frankie". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_zaQ9_xCDM

[NormanD]

He may have played guitar on King Curtis's "Soul Twist", but I haven't found confirmation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmI8pTLwKTs

And his "Married Woman" was covered by The Flamin Groovies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93plKiPxcHA (here's Frankie)

[john poole]

He may have played guitar on King Curtis's "Soul Twist", but I haven't found confirmation

I believe that was Billy Butler, the guitarist on (and co-writer of) 'Honky Tonk' by Bill Doggett
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Y3z ... st&f=false

[NormanD]

Thanks John. It was one of Frankie's claims, apparently. But at least it wasn't Paul Nuttall.