Freitag, 25. März 2016

Lillian Offitt



Lillian Offitt
(Nashville, Tennessee & Chicago, Illinois)


Discography:

Lillian Offitt
1957 – Miss You So / If You Only Knew (Excello 2104)
1957 - Just Lonesome! That’s All / Darlin’ I'll Forgive You (Excello 2124)

Lillian Offitt (& Grp.)
1958 - Can't Go On / Darlin’ Please Don't Change (Excello 2139)

Lillian Offitt
1960 - Will My Man Be Home Tonight / The Man Won't Work (Chief 7012)

Lillian Offitt (& Grp.)
1960 - My Man Is A Lover / Oh Mama (Chief 7015)

Lillian Offitt (& Grp.) / Lillian Offitt
1961 – Troubles / Shine On (Chief 7029)

Biography:

Lillian Offitt was born on November 4, 1938 near Nashville, Tennessee. She had always been interested in music and began to seriously think of being a performer during her days as a student at Tennessee State University. On the evidence of her half dozen releases, Lillian Offitt was a plain but lusty blues shouter, of small stature and commensurate talent. She was still attending college when she visited the offices of Nashboro Records in the hope of making a gospel record. Owner Ernie Young suggested that she try secular music. In March of 1957 she made her first record for the Nashboro subsidiary Excello with “Miss You So” b/w “If You Only Knew” released on # 2104.


The 'A' side “Miss You So” started out as a good seller on the R & B charts. In June Offitt went to Chicago and made some personal appearances in support of her record which shows up as a top seller in that city. In August in Gary, Indiana, a big show honoring Vivian Carter on her eighth anniversary at radio station WWCA included Lillian Offitt performing live. Also on the bill were Magic Sam, The Spaniels, Dale Hawkins, The Dells, and many others. During Labor Day week in Chicago, Lillian appeared with Al Benson at the Regal Theater along with Red Prysock, Sil Austin, Amos Milburn, Ivory Joe Hunter, and The Spaniels. In September Lillian signed on for a five week tour through the south and southwest along with Lowell Fulson, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, and Ernie Freeman. The tour would kick off in Oklahoma City.


Late in the year Lillian Offitt moved to Chicago where she had a steady number of club dates and soon recorded her second side for Excello Records. “Just Lonesome! That's All” b/w “Darling I'll Forgive You” on # 2124. Through the early months of 1958 Offitt tried to repeat the success of “Miss You So” and in the spring Excello released “Darling Please Don't Change” b/w “Can't Go On” on # 2139. This record too failed to break into the top sellers and failed to get considerable airplay and soon Excello dropped her from the label’s roster.

Earl Hooker

In 1959 she began an extended stay as vocalist with Earl Hooker and his combo. Through Hooker, she met Mel London, owner of Chief Records. She was signed to record for the local Chief Records label in Chicago. “The Man Won't Work” b/w “Will My Man Be Home Tonight” on Chief # 7012. Continuing into the nineteen sixties, Lillian Offitt continued to perform and record with Earl Hooker. “Oh Mama” b/w “My Man Is A Lover” was issued by Chief on # 7015. In late 1960 her last effort for Chief was “Troubles” b/w “Shine On” on # 7029. She appeared at such Chicago clubs as Roberts Show Lounge and the Shangri-La. She left music to start a family, preventing her from joining the 1964 American Folk Blues Festival tour, her place taken by Sugar Pie DeSanto. She was last sighted in 1974 as part of the Streakers Rated-X Revue in St. Joseph, Michigan. Lillian Offitt then worked outside of the music field for many years in Chicago.

Sources:


Songs:

Miss You So

If You Only Knew

Just Lonesome! That’s All

Darlin’ I'll Forgive You

Can't Go On

Darlin’ Please Don't Change

Will My Man Be Home Tonight

The Man Won't Work

My Man Is A Lover

Oh Mama

Troubles

Shine On

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