Walter Williams (1937 - 1993)

Born 29 Apr 1937 in Osceola, Mississippi, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Died 7 Sep 1993 at age 56 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message] and Jimmy Honey [send private message]

Biography

Walter Williams is a part of US Black heritage.

Walter Williams is Notable.

Lefty Dizz, born Walter Williams, is notable for his significant contributions to the Chicago blues scene as a left-handed guitarist and charismatic performer. Emerging in the 1960s, he gained recognition for his unique guitar style, playing a right-handed Stratocaster with the strings upside down, and his dynamic stage presence. He collaborated with renowned blues artists like Junior Wells, Earl Hooker, and Hound Dog Taylor, and released several albums that showcased his raw and authentic South Side Chicago blues sound. His original compositions, including blues standards like "Bad Avenue" and "Somebody Stole My Christmas," further solidified his legacy in the blues genre. Despite facing health challenges later in his life, Lefty Dizz continued to perform passionately, leaving an indelible mark on the blues community until his untimely passing in 1993.^[1]

Walter Williams, widely recognized by his stage name Lefty Dizz, was born on April 29, 1937, in Osceola, Mississippi County, Arkansas. He was the son of James and Mary Williams, who relocated to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, when Walter was still an infant. As a child, he was initially drawn to the piano, but eventually shifted his focus to the guitar during his teenage years. He honed his guitar skills under the guidance of his three uncles in churches and barrelhouse clubs.^[2][3]

After completing his service in the Air Force, Lefty Dizz began his musical career in the early 1960s in Chicago, initially as a bass player for Earl Hooker. His unique nickname, "Lefty Dizz," was derived from his left-handed style of playing a right-handed Stratocaster guitar with the strings reversed. Additionally, a brief stint inspired his surname as a trumpet player.^[2][3]

In the mid-1960s, Lefty Dizz joined forces with harmonica virtuoso Junior Wells. Over the next few years, he recorded and toured extensively with Wells, performing in various countries, including Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia. During this period, he also collaborated with other notable Chicago blues musicians, such as Hound Dog Taylor, J.B. Lenoir, and Big Moose Walker.^[2][3]

By the 1970s, Lefty Dizz had recorded a single with his brother Woody Williams for C.J. Records and formed his own band, Shock Treatment. Known for his wild and acrobatic stage antics, raw South Side Chicago guitar style, and charismatic personality, Lefty Dizz became a beloved figure on the Chicago blues scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s, earning admiration from both fans and fellow musicians.^[2][3]

Throughout his career, Lefty Dizz released three studio albums, including two for French labels in 1979 and a third for England's JSP in the late 1980s. As a talented songwriter, he composed blues classics like "Bad Avenue" and "Somebody Stole My Christmas."^[2][3]

In 1992, following a European tour, Lefty Dizz was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Despite his illness, he continued to perform almost until the very end. Tragically, he passed away at the age of 56 on September 7, 1993, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.^[2][3] He was laid to rest at Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery in Hillside, Cook County, Illinois. Lefty Dizz, deeply rooted in the blues, remained vibrant and energetic both on and off the stage throughout his life.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. Lefty Dizz. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. March 26, 2024, 04:51 UTC. Available at: "Walter 'Lefty Dizz' Williams." Accessed March 26, 2024.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} "Lefty Dizz, 56, Chicago blues guitarist", South Florida Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 12 Sep 1993, Sun. - Page 17. Newspapers Clip: 144169006, Accessed 26 Mar 2024.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Komrara, Edward, Encyclopedia of the Blues, Volume 1, A-J Index, 2006. "Encyclopedia of the Blues." Accessed 26 Mar 2024.
4. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140602844/walter-williams: accessed March 26, 2024), memorial page for Walter -Lefty Dizz- Williams (29 Apr 1937–7 Sep 1993), Find A Grave: Memorial #140602844, citing Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Neal Underwood (contributor 47580240).

See Also

• Wikidata: Item Q1425596