Little Mac Simmons

Little Mack Simmons January 25 1933 — October 24 2000 Was An African American Chicago Blues Harmonica Player Singer And Songwriter. Malcolm Simmons Was Born In Twist Arkansas. In His Youth He Befriended James Cotton And They Grew Up Learning To Play The Harmonica. Simmons Relocated To St. Louis Missouri At The Age Of 18 And Worked On The Railroad. At This Time Simmons Made His Stage Debut With Robert Nighthawk. In 1954 He Moved Again To Chicago Put Together His Own Backing Band And Had A Five Year Residency At Cadillac Baby's. He Commenced Recording In 1959 Issuing Records On A Number Of Labels Including Chess. In The Late 1950s And Early 1960s Simmons Recorded Several More Obscure Singles Often Simply Billed As Little Mack Or Mac . Simmons Went On To Provide The Opportunity For Others Talents To Be Seen. He Owned And Managed Chicago's Zodiac Lounge From The Mid To Late 1960s. In Addition He Owned A Recording Studio And Recorded On His Own Labels PM Records And Simmons Records. Simmons Left The Music Industry At That Time For The Ministry And Was Rarely Heard In 30 Years Notwithstanding An Album He Recorded In 1975 In Paris France. His Return To Blues Music Arrived With High & Lonesome 1995 Which Was An Early Success For St. George Records An Independent Record Label. Simmons' Energetic Style Accompanied By Studebaker John Belied His Years. Come Back To Me Baby 1996 With Featured Sidemen John Primer Willie Kent And Jake Dawson Guitarist Was Also Well Received. Simmons Died In October 2000 Of Colon Cancer In His Adopted Hometown Of Chicago At The Age Of 67. read less