Golden "Big" Wheeler

Biography

Golden "Big" Wheeler (December 15, 1929 – July 20, 1998) was an American Chicago blues and electric blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter. He released two albums in his lifetime and is best known for his recordings of the songs "Damn Good Mojo" and "Bone Orchard×Bone Orchard1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Bad Bacon Baby3:032I Got A Feeling I Got The Blues6:503Bone Orchard4:334You Got Me Messed Up2:545Hell Bound Man5:456She Loves Another Man4:467Evil Woman7:288Down In Virginia5:199Katie Blues3:5910Damn Good Mojo4:2111Everybody Needs Somebody4:1512Man Or Mouse3:0213Chains Of Love5:5614Bad Bacon Baby (Alternate Take)3:40". He worked with the Ice Cream Men and Jimmy Johnson. He was the brother of the blues musician James Wheeler.

Biography

He was born Golden Wheeler in Baconton, Georgia. He left Georgia in 1941 and settled in Chicago, Illinois, in July 1954, where he befriended Little Walter. His enthusiasm for playing the harmonica began when he was working as a taxicab driver. One of his regular customers was the harmonica player Buster Brown, who later had a hit record with "Fannie Mae", in 1960. Wheeler fronted his own band by 1956, although he was a part-time musician, working for years as an auto mechanic to supplement his income and provide for his family.
In 1993, Wheeler released his first album, Bone Orchard×Bone Orchard1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Bad Bacon Baby3:032I Got A Feeling I Got The Blues6:503Bone Orchard4:334You Got Me Messed Up2:545Hell Bound Man5:456She Loves Another Man4:467Evil Woman7:288Down In Virginia5:199Katie Blues3:5910Damn Good Mojo4:2111Everybody Needs Somebody4:1512Man Or Mouse3:0213Chains Of Love5:5614Bad Bacon Baby (Alternate Take)3:40, on which he was backed by a local band, the Ice Cream Men. Released by Delmark Records (Delmark 661), it recreated a 1950s feel, with backing two guitars and drums, but no bass guitar. The Ice Cream Men were Rockin' Johnny Burgin and Dave Waldman (guitars) and Steve Cushing (drums). The album was produced by Bob Koester.
His next album was Jump In×Jump In1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Gotta-Have Will Jump In4:402Fire on the Mountain6:333Chicago Winter Weather Blues8:154Connie3:285Just to Be With You4:496Bad Situation Worse7:437Guilty4:048Big Wheeler's Christmas Bells6:389Big Mishap7:5210Young Generation4:5011Jelly, Jelly, Jelly5:4312You're So Fine4:54 (1997), with backing that provided a fuller sound, including his brother, James Wheeler, on guitar. Other musicians who played on the album were Baldhead Pete (drums), Allen Batts (piano) and Bob Stroger (bass), with Koester again producing.
Wheeler died of heart failure in Chicago in July 1998, at the age of 68. The Killer Blues Headstone Project placed a headstone for Wheeler at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Chicago in 2016.

Albums

Bone Orchard (1993), Delmark
Jump In (1997), Delmark