Blues Musician. Born on a Quitman County farm near Vance, Mississippi, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1925, playing with several of the most popular blues musicians of that period. His stage name came from a song he composed about the Sunnyland passenger train that ran between Memphis and St. Louis. In 1942, he relocated to Chicago during the great migration of southern workers to the city, where he greatly contributed the Chicago's blues history. Through the years he played with many blues musicians including Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Robert Lockwood, Jr., and Little Walter. His first recording was as a singer with Jump Jackson's band in 1946. His first recordings as a bandleader were in 1947. He released one record, "Illinois Central b/w Sweet Lucy Blues" on the RCA Victor label. During the late 1960s, he became friends with members of the blues rock band Canned Heat, playing piano on the track "Turpentine Moan" from their album "Boogie with Canned Heat." In return, members of the band made guest appearances on his 1968 album "Slim's Got His Thing Goin' On." In 1988, he was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment of the Arts for his contributions to American blues music. He died at age 88 from complications due to renal failure.
Blues Musician. Born on a Quitman County farm near Vance, Mississippi, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1925, playing with several of the most popular blues musicians of that period. His stage name came from a song he composed about the Sunnyland passenger train that ran between Memphis and St. Louis. In 1942, he relocated to Chicago during the great migration of southern workers to the city, where he greatly contributed the Chicago's blues history. Through the years he played with many blues musicians including Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Robert Lockwood, Jr., and Little Walter. His first recording was as a singer with Jump Jackson's band in 1946. His first recordings as a bandleader were in 1947. He released one record, "Illinois Central b/w Sweet Lucy Blues" on the RCA Victor label. During the late 1960s, he became friends with members of the blues rock band Canned Heat, playing piano on the track "Turpentine Moan" from their album "Boogie with Canned Heat." In return, members of the band made guest appearances on his 1968 album "Slim's Got His Thing Goin' On." In 1988, he was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment of the Arts for his contributions to American blues music. He died at age 88 from complications due to renal failure.
Bio by: Michael
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