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Fred Below
Fred Below was
born in Chicago on September 16, 1926. Below played drums in high
school and went on to study percussion at the Roy C. Knapp School of
Percussion. Primarily a jazz drummer at the time, he played bebop and
joined the Army as part of the 427th Army band. After the service, he
returned to Chicago in 1951 to find that blues gigs were what was
happening. Jazz was in a lull.
Then Muddy Waters drummer Elgin Evans introduced Below to a group
called the Three Aces - Junior Wells (vocals, harp), Louis Myers
(guitar), and Dave Myers (bass) -- who needed a drummer. As a jazz
drummer, Below did not know blues drumming and it was a rough fit at
first. The next big event came when Little Walter (on the sudden
success of his instrumental "Juke") quit the Muddy Waters band and was
replaced by Junior Wells. Little Walter then joined the Three Aces
which he had been itching to do because Muddy Waters did not play in
the up-tempo style that Walter was into. Little Walter and the Four
Aces (later renamed the Jukes) were a perfect fit and this four-piece
electric blues combo became the hottest band in Chicago.
It is hard to estimate the effect of this band on Chicago music scene,
and a large part of this success is due to the refined and elegant
drumming of Below. He plays on almost all of Walter's greatest hits. He
was in total demand for recording sessions. Everyone wanted him and he
recorded for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, Otis Rush, Elmore
James, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Dinah Washington, John Brim, the
Platters, the Moonglows, the Drifters, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker,
Howlin' Wolf, and many more. Fred Below and the Aces pretty much
created the standard for the blues shuffle beat. Below also was known
for his use of the ride cymbal, the wood block, tom-tom fills, and many
other embellishments. Just check out his drum solo on Little Walter's
classic tune "Off the Wall."
-Written
by Michael Erlewine
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