Instruments Drums Name Fred Below | Genres Blues | |
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Born September 16, 1926Chicago, Illinois, United States ( 1926-09-16 ) Similar People Junior Wells, Little Walter, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Eddie Boyd, Big Walter Horton | ||
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Frederick Below, Jr. (September 6, 1926 – August 13, 1988) was an American blues drummer, best known for his work with Little Walter and Chess Records in the 1950s. According to Tony Russell, Below was a creator of much of the rhythmic structure of Chicago blues, especially its backbeat. He was the drummer on Chuck Berry's immortal song: "Johnny B. Goode".
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Route66 fred below
Career
Below was born in Chicago and started playing drums in a high school jazz band. After being conscripted into the United States Army, he joined the 427th Army band, in which he played with Lester Young. After service in World War II, he played in a nightclub in Germany before returning to the United States in 1951.
Back in Chicago, Below joined the Aces, a band comprising the guitar-playing brothers Louis and Dave Myers and the harmonica player Junior Wells. In 1952, Little Walter left the Muddy Waters band to pursue a solo career, Wells took over his role on harp in the Muddy Waters band, and Walter commandeered the Aces (the Myers brothers and Below). As Little Walter and the Nightcats, they became one of the top electric blues bands in Chicago.
In 1955, Below left Little Walter's band to concentrate on working as a session musician for Chess Records. However, he continued to play on Little Walter's records. He also played on hit records for Waters, Wells, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Rogers, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Howlin' Wolf and others.
Below worked with bassist Willie Dixon, Little Walter, and guitarist Robert Lockwood, Jr. on John Brim's last single for Chess, "I Would Hate to See You Go" (1956).
Among his more famous work, he played on Chuck Berry's 1957 hit single "School Days" as well as on other Berry recording including Brown Eyed Handsome Man (1956), Roll Over Beethoven (1956), Too Much Monkey Business (1956), the calypso flavored, "Havana Moon" (1956), Rock and Roll Music (1957), Sweet Little Sixteen (1957), Reelin' and Rockin' (1957), Guitar Boogie (1957), Memphis, Tennessee (1958), "Sweet Little Rock and Roller" (1958), Little Queenie (1958), Almost Grown (1959), Back in the U.S.A. (1959), and Let It Rock (1959).
Below rejoined the Myers brothers for a tour of Europe in 1970.
Below died of cancer on August 13, 1988, in Chicago, at the age of 61.