Terry Evans

Biography

Terry Evans (August 14, 1937 – January 20, 2018) was an American R&B, blues, and soul singer, guitarist and songwriter. He worked with many musicians including Ry Cooder, Bobby King, John Fogerty, Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, John Lee Hooker, Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur and Hans Theessink. Cooder stated that he always thought that Evans made a better "frontman."
Between 1994 and his death, Evans released seven solo albums, including Blues for Thought×Blues for Thought1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Too Many Cooks3:232Hey Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut5:523Shakespeare Didn't Quote That4:014Natcha Bone Lover4:215That's the Way Love Turned Out for Me6:126So Fine4:007Get Your Lies Straight5:348Live, Love and Be Friends4:209Honey Boy4:2010I Want to Be Close to You, God7:16 (1994) Come to the River×Come to the River1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Get Up, Get Ready3:492My Babe4:033Please No More6:354The River6:475I Got Loaded3:046What You Need4:497I Just Want to Make Love to You3:318Feeling Alright4:259Tears Are Rolling4:2710Love Is a Precious Thing6:13 (1997) and Fire in the Feeling (2005). Evans' career was inspired by Elmore James, Little Walter, Albert King, and B.B. King. Songs he wrote were recorded by Pops Staples and Louis Jordan.

Life and career

Terry Lee Evans was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States, and sang in his local church choir. His parents were keen for him to concentrate purely on gospel music, although Evans found exposure to the work of mainstream blues musicians. He worked semi professionally with an a cappella group called the Knights before relocating in the 1960s to Los Angeles. He expanded his repertoire by learning to play the guitar and started to write songs for other musicians. Amongst those who recorded his songs were Pops Staples ("Love Is a Precious Thing") and Louis Jordan ("Hop, Skip, and Jump"). Unable to find his own fame, despite television exposure, Evans teamed with fellow soul and gospel singer, Bobby King. They performed regularly on the Chitlin' Circuit throughout the 1970s, although Evans also worked as a backing vocalist for Ry Cooder. His backup work is featured on several of Cooder's albums, including Chicken Skin Music (1976), My Name Is Buddy (2007) and some of his final recorded work featured on Cooder's The Prodigal Son (2018). Evans joint work with King saw the release of two albums in 1988 and 1990.
He gained a bigger audience through his involvement in the soundtrack to the 1986 film, Crossroads. Evans voice appeared on the title track in the film itself, and on the soundtrack on another song, "Down in Mississippi". Evans later worked with Lloyd Jones on the latter's album, Trouble Monkey, before recording his first solo album, Blues for Thought×Blues for Thought1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Too Many Cooks3:232Hey Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut5:523Shakespeare Didn't Quote That4:014Natcha Bone Lover4:215That's the Way Love Turned Out for Me6:126So Fine4:007Get Your Lies Straight5:348Live, Love and Be Friends4:209Honey Boy4:2010I Want to Be Close to You, God7:16 (1994). It was produced by Ry Cooder, who also played guitar on the recording. Evans sang backing vocals on the Dutch singer and guitarist Hans Theessink's 1997 album, Journey On. Evans 2001 album, Mississippi Magic×Mississippi Magic27 February 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Big Bad Daddy Good4:462Where the Southern Crosses the Dog4:253I'd Rather Trick My Own Self5:164Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You3:495Blues & Wine4:446I Want to Love You5:327Mellow Down Easy3:228Let Love Begin4:439You Better Get Your Shit Together5:2410Where We Gonna Go3:42 was nominated for a Blues Music Award as the "Best Soul Blues Album of the Year". On Evans 2005 album, Fire in the Feeling×Fire in the Feeling23 September 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Uphill Climb (To the Bottom)4:512Nothing Wrong With Texas (That Leaving Won't Fix)4:203My Baby Joined the Army6:564Let's Get Gone5:145Turn on Your Lovelight6:366I'll Be Your Shelter (In the Time of Storm)5:027Discover Me4:558I Got a Pony (She Likes to Ride)3:589What About Me?5:5510Racket in the Room3:2811Walkin' Chains7:22, David Lindley guest starred playing guitar on a couple of the tracks.
Evans' last recording was his joint effort with Theessink, on Delta Time (2012). CBC News journalist, Bianca Cervantes, opined that "Delta Time is the latest transatlantic blues treasure."
In 2014, Evans was featured on the compilation Songs from a Stolen Spring. On the album Evans' performance of "Dancing in the Street" was meshed with Lebanese singer-songwriter Tania Saleh's "Not a Word was Spoken".
Evans died on January 20, 2018, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 80.