James "Wee Willie" Wayne - Fom Texas To New Orleans

There was a request for re-up on this link so I will bring it forward for another run.

Now some of you may have thought that Unky Clif was some sort of myth but this post is actually written by him.

"Charlie Gillett ruined my life.

In 1970 when the first edition of his book "Sound Of The City" was released I was a novice collector. Too smart to continue buying albums because I liked the cover but smart enough to know how little I knew about the music(s) I loved. Gillet's book, possibly the finest written about the origins of rock & roll, was a revelation and the suggested listening set me on an epic quest to gather all the 300 or so songs mentioned. Some performers were familiar to a Chicago boy, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Jimmy Reed. Others were a bit more of a chore.

James Wayne ruined my life.

Buried in the early portion of Gillett's treasure map was James Waynes' "Tend To Your Business" (Sittin' In With 588) from 1951. So began my search for the Holy Grail. For 35 years I dug into anything which might lead to this golden track. Hard to recall in those pre-internet days the effort involved in finding an out of print 78 by a one-hit R&B singer who never found his own pot of gold. A process made even harder by a man who recorded under nearly as many names as he released records. James Wayne, James Waynes, Wee Willie, Larry Evans, Billy Hoke, where to begin…

My journey ended about 5 years ago and like any quest the experience is more important than goal so I won't pretend that Wayne is the great lost R&B hero. Just a journeyman who cranked out  about 40 songs for Sittin' In With (1950-1951), Imperial (1951-1952, 1955 & 1961), Aladdin, Million, Old Town & Fabor (1954 - 1955),  Pickwick (1956) and D.W. (1965). Also the perfect example of a Chitlin' Circuit performer.

I can't  provide much by way of biography but this link (http://borensteinslaw.blogspot.com/search/label/Jimmy%20Wayne) tells a sad part of the Wayne story. Like many things in James' saga even this is flawed. James Douglas Wayne was actually born 17 April 1924 in Livingston Co TX the son of Alvin and Allie Wayne from DeSoto Parish LA. The family had moved to the outskirts of Houston in early 1920 and Alvin died there in 1938 leaving three children and his wife. James completed 3 years of High School and, in late 1942, enlisted in the Army.


This disc is a mess just like the James Wayne story. Clearly tossed together without notes, a lousy cover and issued on a homemade CD with no semblance of chronology. James' 1951 recording of "Junkco Partner" AKA "Worthless Man" (SIW 607) is considered by some to be the earliest version of this New Orleans chestnut and his "Travelin' Mood" (Imperial 5355) from 1955 has become the template for many subsequent recordings. Clearly a tarnished Grail but one well worthy of a few good gulps.

For my part the most fascinating thing about this guy is that he may well be responsible for the song Junco Partner in the form we know it today. I have found verification that this version (track 3) is the one that Professor Longhair, Dr. John and James Booker all learned the song from. There is no doubt it shares elements from earlier songs like Champion Jack's Junker's Blues, but it appears Wayne may be due credit for writing the song as it is currently played. The song itself has such a history and so many verses and versions that it should likely be public domain but somehow sleazy Bob Shad of all people managed to steal it and put his name on it and it remains that way today. 

Addendum: I had the honor today of discussing the subject of Junco Partner, Junker's Blues and James Wee Willie Wayne with both Deacon John and Smokey Johnson. They both were firm in saying that the two songs are essentially un-related other than thematically. Both quickly pointed out that The Fat Man and Lawdy Miss Clawdy are Junker's Blues with different lyrics. They also mentioned the fact that the song came out of a group of pianists including William Hill, Champion Jack, Tuts Washington and Professor Longhair who were all playing with recently arrived Caribbean musicians.

As to Junco Partner, neither felt it was a related song at all and both swear they had never heard it until James Wayne. They were both pretty impressed that I knew who he was and both were fairly certain that Wayne wrote the song. 

Livin' in New Orleans....Ain't it grand!