Harry Van Walls

Harry Van Walls Born Harry Eugene Vann On 24 August 1918 – Died 24 February 1999 Was An American Rhythm And Blues Piano Player Songwriter Studio Musician And Professional Recording Artist. Van "Piano Man" Walls Was Born In Middlesboro Kentucky And Grew Up In Charleston West Virginia. His Mother Was A Piano Teacher. His Stepfather Was Named Walls So He Took The Name Van Walls Often Written As Vann Walls . He Left Home As A Teenager And Toured The Southern United States With Carnivals Circuses And Variety Caravans. He Returned To Charleston In His Mid-20s And Played As A Solo Pianist In Local Clubs And On WCHS AM Radio. In The Early-1940s He Began Playing In Cal Greer's Band And Later Formed His Own Band Based In Columbus Ohio. In The Late-1940s Saxophonist Frank "Floorshow" Culley Convinced Walls To Join The New Atlantic Records Label In New York City As Atlantic's House Band Pianist. Notable Songs Either Written By Or Featuring His Musicianship Include The Following "Sweet Sixteen" Big Joe Turner "Chains Of Love" Big Joe Turner "5-10-15 Hours" Ruth Brown "One Mint Julep" The Clovers "Tomorrow Night" LaVern Baker "Any Time Any Place Anywhere" Laurie Tate In 1950 Walls Recorded And Released The Single "Tee Nah Nah"/"Ain't Gonna Scold You" On Atlantic Catalog #904 Which Featured Vocals By Spider Sam The Pseudonym Used By Brownie McGhee . Walls Also Recorded And Released The 1950 Single "Easter Parade"/"Air Mail Boogie" On Derby Records Catalog #733 With Vocals By Freddie Mitchell As Well As The 1950 Single "Chocolate Candy Blues" On Columbia Records Catalog #30220 . Vann Walls Was Credited On All Of Atlantic's Early Recordings By Joe Turner. In 1954 Walls Joined The Nite Riders Where He Remained For Almost Ten Years. Based Mainly In Montreal Quebec Canada The Group Primarily Recorded On The Apollo Records Label Though In 1957 They Recorded A One-Off Single For MGM Records. During The Early-1960s They Recorded For Various Labels Including Cherry Chime Smash And Courtesy. After The Group's Breakup Van Walls Remained In Montreal And Formed His Own Group Called Captain Van & The Pirates. Walls Played A Number Of Blues And Jazz Festivals In The United States And Canada Throughout The 1980s And 1990s. 1 In 1997 He Was Recognized For His Contributions To Early R&B Music By The Rhythm And Blues Foundation And Was Awarded The Foundation's Pioneer Award. Walls Continued To Record Until His Death In January 1999. read less