Though he was certainly capable of brilliantly fronting a band, remarkably versatile guitarist/harpist
Louis Myers will forever be recognized first and foremost as a top-drawer sideman and founding member of the Aces -- the band that backed harmonica wizard
Little Walter on his immortal early Checker waxings.
Along with his older brother David -- another charter member of the Aces --
Louis left Mississippi for Chicago with his family in 1941. Fate saw that the family move next door to blues great
Lonnie Johnson, whose complex riffs caught young
Louis' ear. Another
Myers brother, harp-blowing Bob, hooked
Louis up with guitarist Othum Brown for house party gigs.
Myers also played with guitarist
Arthur "Big Boy" Spires before teaming with his brother, David, on guitar and young harpist
Junior Wells, to form the first incarnation of the Aces (who were initially known as the Three Deuces). In 1950, drummer
Fred Below came on board.
In effect, the Aces and
Muddy Waters traded harpists in 1952,
Wells leaving to play with
Waters while
Little Walter, just breaking nationally with his classic "Juke," moved into the frontman role with the Aces.
Myers and the Aces backed
Walter on his seminal "Mean Old World," "Sad Hours," "Off the Wall," and "Tell Me Mama" and at New York's famous Apollo Theater before
Louis left in 1954 (he and the Aces moonlighted on
Wells' indispensable 1953-1954 output for States).
Plenty of sideman work awaited
Myers -- he played with
Otis Rush,
Earl Hooker, and many more. But his own recording career was practically non-existent; after a solitary 1956 single for Abco, "Just Whaling"/"Bluesy," that found
Myers blowing harp in
Walter-like style, it wasn't until 1968 that two
Myers tracks turned up on Delmark.
The Aces re-formed during the '70s and visited Europe often as a trusty rhythm section for touring acts.
Myers cut a fine set for Advent in 1978, I'm a Southern Man, that showed just how effective he could be as a leader (in front of an L.A. band, no less).
Myers was hampered by the effects of a stroke while recording his last album for Earwig, 1991's
Tell My Story Movin'. He courageously completed the disc but was limited to playing harp only. His health soon took a turn for the worse, ending his distinguished musical career. ~ Bill Dahl