Lil Joe Washington was born in Houston on March 1, 1939, to a mother, young and single, who named him Marion. He grew up in the Third Ward, home of blues giants such as Lightnin Hopkins. Informally adopted, he lived with relatives in a two-story structure facing the railroad tracks. The bottom floor functioned as a barbershop and tiny cafe a place where his uncle (who played violin and saxophone) often hosted jam sessions. By the age of five, Marion was bamming on the upright piano in the corner. By nine he was also blowing on a trumpet, and by fifteen he was pounding on drums in a band led by Albert Collins. It wasnt until he started bending the strings of a guitar and imitating local phenomenon Joe Hughes that he became known generally by the moniker Little Joe. Following a brief apprenticeship in Houston clubs, the wiry guitarist toured with Roscoe Gordons road band. Later, with Cecil Harveys group, he worked the territory from Texas to Nevada. Around the age of twenty he settled if thats the word for the wild lifestyle he recalls there in El Paso, where he played the rowdy border town circuit, including a stint at the Lobby Bar in Juarez, Mexico. There he met the group The Champs, who took him to California in 1961 to record on the Donna label the original versions of ³Hard Way Four and The Last Tear In 1963 Little Joe returned to Los Angeles, where he recorded for the Federal label, ultimately releasing tracks such as Someone Loves Me,I Feel All Right and Bossa Nova and Grits. 1. Hard Way 2. Someone Loves Me 3. I Feel Alright 4. Unfinished Business 5. Last Tear 6. Bossa Nova Part 2 7. New York 8. Take My Hand 9. Song For My Father 10. Don't Do It 11. 5 Spot 12. How Long 13. Bye Bye
