b. December 15th, 1929 in Baconton (Georgia)
d. June 20th, 1998 in Chicago (Illinois)
LOW BLOWS
Mr Blues
September 1975
Originaire de Georgie, il arrive à Chicago en juillet 1954 (il habite sur South Stewart St.) et se met dès l'année suivante à l'harmonica, influencé principalement par Buster Brown et Little Walter. Il joue en particulier avec son frère cadet le guitariste James Wheeler. Il reste plus ou moins actif des années 50 aux années 70 tout en exerçant les métiers de taxi ou de mécanicien automobile. Grâce à Steve Wisner, il grave deux bons morceaux ("Good lover" et "Evil woman") dans cette anthologie accompagné notamment du guitariste Bobby King.
Originally from Georgia, he arrived in Chicago in july 1954 (he lives on South Stewart St.) and started playing harmonica the following year, mainly influenced by Buster Brown and Little Walter. He plays in particular with his younger brother guitarist James Wheeler. He remained more or less active from the 1950's to the 1970's while working as a taxi driver or car mechanic. Thanks to Steve Wisner, he recorded two good tracks ("Good lover" and "Evil woman") in this anthology accompanied in particular by guitarist Bobby King.
CHICAGO BLUES SESSION vol.14
Wolf
October 1989
Harmoniciste intéressant mais chanteur médiocre, Golden "Big" Wheeler joue ici sur quatre titres issus d'une séance chicagoane édités par le label autrichien Wolf. On retient en particulier "Good lover" et "What's on your mind". L'autre moitié du CD est consacrée à A.C. Reed.
Interesting harmonica player but mediocre singer, Golden "Big" Wheeler plays here on four tracks from a Chicago session issued by the austrian label Wolf. We will particularly point out "Good lover" and "What's on your mind". The other half of the CD is devoted to A.C. Reed.
CHICAGO BLUES HARMONICA
Wolf
January 1992
Big Wheeler propose dans cette anthologie deux bons titres de Chicago Blues : une reprise correcte de "I'm ready" et le slow-blues "Dirty blues" (avec Phil Guy à la guitare).
Big Wheeler plays two good Chicago Blues tracks in this anthology : a decent cover of "I'm ready" and the slow-blues "Dirty blues" (with Phil Guy on guitar).
BIG WHEELER'S BONE ORCHARD
Delmark
August 1992 / February 1993
Revenu sur le devant de la scène, "Big" Wheeler enregistre ici pour le label Delmark de Robert Koester (producteur ici) un album enregistré dans la grande tradition du Chicago Blues des années 50. Un véritable réussite pleine de feeling avec de superbes morceaux comme "I got a feeling I got the blues", "Bone orchard", "You got me messed up", "Evil woman", "Katie blues", "Damn good mojo". Une belle tranche de Chicago Blues brut et excitant. En forme à l'harmonica, il est supporté par de remarquables musiciens : Dave Waldman (guitare), Johnny Burgin (guitare) et surtout l'excellent batteur Steve Cushing.
Coming back to the front of the stage, "Big" Wheeler recorded here, for the Delmark label run by Robert Koester (producer here), an album recorded in the great tradition of the Chicago Blues of the 50's. A real success full of feeling with great tracks like "I got a feeling I got the blues", "Bone orchard", "You got me messed up", "Evil woman", "Katie blues", "Damn good mojo" . A beautiful raw and exciting slice of Chicago Blues. In shape on the harmonica, he is supported by remarkable musicians : Dave Waldman (guitar), Johnny Burgin (guitar) and above all the excellent drummer Steve Cushing.
TURN MY LIFE AROUND
Blue Shadow (only on cassette)
Wolf
1993
Golden "Big" Wheeler souhaitait avoir un album qu'il puisse vendre à la fin de ses concerts. Pour ce faire, il contacte son ami le guitariste Jimmy Johnson qui produit la séance. Celui-ci joue de tous les instruments laissant évidemment chant et harmonica à Golden Wheeler. Une séance de Chicago Blues plutôt classique dans laquelle ce dernier se montre efficace à l'harmonica. On apprécie également les qualités de guitariste de Jimmy Johnson. Uniquement publiée sur une cassette confidentielle, la séance est reprise en CD en 2017 par Hannes Folterbauer et son label Wolf qui, pour l'occasion, ajoute deux titres de 1989 (déjà publiés dans "Chicago blues session vol.14"). Un album sympathique à réserver aux fans confirmés.
Golden "Big" Wheeler wanted to have an album he could sell at the end of his concerts. To do this, he contacted his friend, guitarist Jimmy Johnson, who produced the session. This one plays all instruments obviously leaving vocals and harmonica to Golden Wheeler. A rather classic Chicago Blues session in which the latter is effective on harmonica. We also appreciate the skills of Jimmy Johnson guitar playing. Only issued on a confidential cassette, the session was reissued on CD in 2017 by Hannes Folterbauer on his Wolf label who, for the occasion, added two titles from 1989 (already issued in "Chicago blues session vol.14"). A nice album to reserve for confirmed fans.
BLUES BEFORE SUNRISE vol.1
Delmark
October 1996
Il s'agit d'un concert qui fut organisé pour le soutien de l'émission de radio "Blues before sunrise" animée par Steve Cushing sur WBEZ. Un disque intéressant, quoique relativement mineur, qui permet, surtout, de soutenir une émission qui existe depuis 1980. Big Wheeler joue sur cinq bons morceaux avec son groupe régulier en particulier le slow-blues "Got a feeling".
This is a concert that was organized to support the radio show "Blues before sunrise" hosted by Steve Cushing on WBEZ. An interesting disc, although relatively minor, which, importantly, support a program that has existed since 1980. Big Wheeler plays on five good tracks with his regular band, especially the slow-blues "Got a feeling".
JUMP IN
Delmark
August 1997
Pour son second album chez Delmark, "Big" Wheeler propose une nouvelle tranche de ce Chicago Blues traditionnel agrémenté de beaux textes autobiographiques, toujours produit par Robert Koester. Il est accompagné d'excellents sidemen en particulier son frère James Wheeler très inspiré à la guitare. On apprécie notamment ses compositions personnelles comme "Gotta have will jump in", "Chicago winter weather blues", "Bad situation worse", "Big Wheeler's christmas bells" ainsi qu'une belle reprise de "Just to be with you". Suite au succès de cet album, "Big" Wheeler figura à l'affiche de la tournée française du Chicago Blues Festival à la fin de l'année 1997. Il décède d'un arrêt cardiaque à l'été 1998.
For his second album with Delmark, "Big" Wheeler offers a new slice of this traditional Chicago Blues embellished with beautiful autobiographical texts, still produced by Robert Koester. He is accompanied by excellent sidemen in particular his brother James Wheeler, very inspired on guitar. We particularly appreciate his personal compositions such as "Gotta have will jump in", "Chicago winter weather blues", "Bad situation worse", "Big Wheeler's christmas bells" as well as a beautiful cover of "Just to be with you". Following the success of this album, "Big" Wheeler was featured on the Chicago Blues Festival french tour at the end of 1997. He died of cardiac arrest in the summer of 1998.