Fred Below

Fred Below
Fred Below in 1975
Background information
Born	(1926-09-16)September 16, 1926 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died	August 14, 1988(1988-08-14) (aged 61) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Blues
Instruments	Drums

Fred Below (September 16, 1926 – August 14, 1988^[1]) was an American blues drummer, best known for his work with Little Walter and Chess Records in the 1950s. According to Tony Russell, Below was creator of much of the rhythmic structure of Chicago blues, especially its backbeat.^[2]

Career

Below was born in Chicago, and started playing drums in a high school jazz band. After being conscripted into the United States Army, he joined the 427th Army band, where he played with Lester Young. After war service, he played in nightclub in Germany before returning to the United States in 1951.

Back in Chicago, Below joined a group called The Aces, comprising Junior Wells and brothers Louis and Dave Myers. Little Walter had just left Muddy Waters' band to pursue a solo career, Wells taking over Walter's role on harp in the Muddy Waters band and Walter commandeering the Aces (Myers brothers and Below). As Little Walter and the Nightcats, they became one of the top electric blues bands in Chicago.

In 1955, Below left Little Walter's live band to concentrate on working as a session musician for Chess Records.^[2] However, he continued to play on Little Walter's records, as well as hit records for Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Rogers, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Junior Wells, Howlin' Wolf and others.^[2]

Below worked with bassist Willie Dixon, Little Walter, and guitarist Robert Lockwood, Jr., on John Brim's last single for Chess, "I Would Hate to See You Go" (1956).^[1]

Amongst his more famous work was playing on Chuck Berry's 1957 hit single, "School Days".

Below rejoined the Myers brothers to tour Europe in 1970.^[3]

Below died from cancer on August 14, 1988 in Chicago at the age of 61.^[4]

References