BABY FACE LEROY FOSTER

Biography

Leroy 'Baby Face' Foster was born on February 1, 1923, in Algoma, Mississippi, southwest of Tupelo. He relocated to Chicago in the mid-1940s, around 1945, arriving with harmonica player Little Walter and pianist Johnny Jones, his first cousin. There, he honed his skills playing for tips on Maxwell Street before joining clubs, working with pianist Sunnyland Slim, harmonica player John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson, and pianist Lee Brown. By 1946, an acquaintance introduced him to Muddy Waters at a recording session, leading Foster to join Waters' band as a guitarist and drummer alongside Jimmy Rogers, later with Little Walter on harmonica. Known as the Headhunters, this group gained notoriety for musically dominating other bands in Chicago clubs.[1][2][3]

Foster's recording career began in 1945 with guitar on Lee Brown's 'My Little Girl Blues' b/w 'Bobbie Town Boogie' for the Chicago label. He recorded sessions with Brown (1946, Queen label), James 'Beale Street' Clark (1946, Columbia), Sunnyland Slim (1947-1948, Opera), and others, while playing on Aristocrat tracks like Muddy Waters' 'You're Gonna Miss Me' and Floyd Jones' 'Hard Times' (1948, Tempo-Tone). As a leader, he cut 'Locked Out Boogie' b/w 'Shady Grove Blues' (1948, Aristocrat 1234, billed with Muddy Waters), 'My Head Can't Rest Anymore' b/w 'Take a Little Walk with Me' (1949, J.O.B. 100), and 'Boll Weevil' b/w 'Red Headed Woman' (1950, Parkway 104). His 1950 Parkway session with Waters, Little Walter, and Rogers produced the acclaimed 'Rollin' and Tumblin' (Part 1 & 2), praised in the Chicago Defender for its raw, African chant-like energy, though it caused contract issues for Waters with Chess Records. Further J.O.B. singles followed in 1951-1952. Foster's style featured a warm, high-pitched voice blending Sonny Boy Williamson and Doctor Clayton influences, with shouts, encouragements, unfussy Chicago-style drums, and sparse guitar.[1][2][3]

Foster died young on May 26, 1958, in Chicago at age 35 (or 38 per some accounts), likely from health issues tied to heavy drinking, cutting short a promising career. As a charter Headhunter and early Muddy Waters band member, he helped shape postwar electric Chicago blues but faded into obscurity due to his early death and limited solo success after Parkway folded.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Part of the 'Headhunters' with Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers, named for crashing clubs to musically outperform other bands.
• His 1950 Parkway 'Rollin' and Tumblin'' was reviewed in the Chicago Defender as having 'the sound and beat of African chant,' rare for down-home blues.
• Muddy Waters' participation on Foster's Parkway session caused trouble with Chess Records, forcing Waters to re-record it to 'kill' the independent release.
• First cousin to pianists Little Johnny Jones and Little Willie Foster; arrived in Chicago with Jones and Little Walter in 1945.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson - early collaborator and stylistic vocal influence (club work starting 1946) [mid-1940s]
• Doctor Clayton - stylistic vocal influence noted in singing eccentricities (general style impact) [1940s]

Key Collaborators

• Muddy Waters - bandmate in Headhunters, guitarist/drummer in early band, session musician (Aristocrat 78s ('You're Gonna Miss Me', 1948-49), Parkway 'Rollin' and Tumblin' (1950)) [1946-1950]
• Little Walter - arrived in Chicago together, bandmate in Headhunters, harmonica on sessions (Parkway Trio singles (1950), Tempo-Tone 'Blue Baby' (1948)) [1945-1950]
• Jimmy Rogers - Headhunters bandmate, guitarist (Parkway session (1950, two tracks)) [late 1940s-1950]
• Sunnyland Slim - early club and recording collaborator (Opera sessions (1947-48), Tempo-Tone 'I Want My Baby' (1948)) [1946-1948]
• Lee Brown - first recording sessions as guitarist ('My Little Girl Blues' (1945, Chicago label), Queen session (1946)) [1945-1946]

Artists Influenced

• Postwar Chicago blues musicians - contributed to electric Chicago blues sound via Headhunters and Waters band (early Waters Aristocrat recordings) [1940s-1950s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia