Major Works
- Too Bad- Part One
- Five Long Years
- 24 Hours
- Third Degree
- Dust My Broom
- Unfair Lovers
- Key To The Highway
- Vacation From The Blues
- Steakhouse Rock
- Letter Missin’ Blues
- Ain’t Doin’ Too Bad
- Blues Coat Man
- The Train Is Coming
- Save Her, Doctor
- Rack ‘Em Back
- Too Bad- Part Two
- The Big Bell
- Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie
- Night Time Is The Right Time
Eddie Boyd: A Biography
by William Gandy (SHS)
illiam Gandy (SHS Researcher)
Edward Riley Boyd was born on Frank Moore’s Stovall Plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi, on November 25, 1914, although a birth certificate later put the date at November 13. As a youth, he taught himself how to play piano and guitar, and he worked the jukes joints in and around the Mississippi delta and then moved to Memphis in 1936. In Memphis he often played on Beale Street with his band the Dixie Rhythm Boys. Hoping to record, Boyd left Memphis for Chicago in 1941. There he worked in the city’s blues joints with Johnny Shines, ” Sonny Boy Williamson, and the famous Muddy Waters. Boyd played in the recording studio regularly. (Santelli 52).
Lester Melrose, who had signed Eddie to Victor, arranged for him to play piano at a session with Big Maceo in 1947. Maceo had suffered paralysis to his right hand side. In a1948 Boyd recorded with J. T. Brown’s Boogie Band. In 1952 Eddie achieved his greatest success with ” Five Long Years.” Another song ’24 Hours” was his next hit, and the following song “Third Degree” became his third hit within a twelve month span. ( Goggle Eddie Boyd. com).
Boyd journeyed to Europe during the “Blues Boom” of the 60’s and decide to live permanently in Europe, first in Paris and later in Finland. His piano playing is” steadily functional rather than spectacular and his main strength is his ability to put together lyrics which are pithy and acidic.” (Encyclopedia of Popular Music 520). In 1957 a car crash in Illinois resulted in Eddie being injured, and his popularity declined for awhile. Eddie was part of the American Folk Blues Festival in 1965.
After having played in France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Denmark, he married a Finnish woman in 1970 and settled in Finland. He underwent heart surgery for replacement of a defective valve in 1980. His last record was a cassette of religious music in 1993. Eddie Boyd died in Melilahti Hospital, Helsinki, Finland, on July 13, 1994 (all music.com).
Timeline
- Nov. 25- Edward Riley Boyd was born in a Stovall plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi
- 1941- Eddie travels to Chicago in the hope of finding some new musical opportunities.
- 1945- Eddie joins Sonny Williamson II on stage for a recording section.
- 1947- Eddie signs with Victor, who arranges for him to play with Big Maceo.
- 1949- He attends the last of his five recording sessions for Victor.
- 1951- He records for the J.O.B. label and for Chess.
- 1952- Eddie achieves great success with “Five Long Years,” (now a blues standard)
- 1957- Eddie was in a very bad car crash in Illinois resulting in his being laid up injured for three months at a time when his popularity is in decline.
- 1965- Eddie decides to settle in Europe in Paris.
- 1970- Eddie marries a Finnish national and settles in Finland.
- 1980- He undergoes heart surgery for replacement of a defective valve.
- 1986- He receives a warm response at the Chicago Blues Festival.
- 1993- He releases a cassette of religious music in 1993.
- July 13, 1994- Eddie Boyd dies in Meilahti Hospital in Finland
Related websites
- Excellent biography of Eddie Boyd from European site called Praise the Blues.
- Lyrics to Oh Oh by Boyd here.
- Biography of Eddie Boyd