peppermint harris

Peppermint Harris !

Although Peppermint Harris wrote lyrics for B B King and Etta James,

his early success was followed by obscurity before he enjoyed a small

revival among blues enthusiasts. By the time he was in his early 20s,

Harrison Nelson, Jr. was lucky enough to have found a mentor and

friend on the Houston blues front: Lightnin' Hopkins took an interest

in the young man's musical development. When Harris was deemed ready,

Lightnin' accompanied him to Houston's Gold Star Records. Nothing came

of that jaunt, but Harris eventually recorded his debut 78 for the

company in 1948 (as Peppermint Nelson). Bob Shad's Sittin' in With

label was the vehicle that supplied Harris' early work to the masses

-- especially his first major hit, "Raining in My Heart," in 1950.

These weren't exactly formal sessions -- legend has it one took place

in a Houston bordello! Nor was Shad too cognizant of Pep's surname --

when he couldn't recall it, he simply renamed our man Harris. Harris

moved over to Eddie Mesner's Aladdin Records in 1951, cutting far

tighter sides for the firm in Los Angeles (often with the ubiquitous

Maxwell Davis serving as bandleader and saxist).

And don't be fooled by the outta tune guitar.

Peppermint Harris - Got A Big Fine Baby