Little Milton

Biography

Little Milton, born James Milton Campbell Jr. on September 7, 1934, near Inverness, Mississippi, was a pivotal figure in American blues and soul music. Raised in the Mississippi Delta, he was the son of 'Big' Milton Campbell, a blues musician and farmer, and grew up surrounded by the sounds of rural blues and the Grand Ole Opry. Milton built his first guitar as a child and purchased his first real one at age twelve, funding it with money earned from cotton field labor. By his teens, he was performing locally and gaining experience under the guidance of established musicians.

Milton's professional career began in the early 1950s when Ike Turner introduced him to Sam Phillips of Sun Records, leading to his first recordings. He later moved to St. Louis, where he co-founded Bobbin Records and played a key role in recruiting talent, including Albert King. His breakthrough came after signing with Checker Records in Chicago, where he blended blues with soul, achieving national success with hits like 'We're Gonna Make It.' Over the decades, Milton recorded for several major labels, including Stax and Malaco, producing a string of influential albums and singles. Renowned for his powerful vocals, expressive guitar work, and business acumen, Little Milton remained a major attraction on the blues circuit until his death from a stroke on August 4, 2005. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1988, cementing his legacy as a bridge between traditional blues and soul music.

Fun Facts

• Little Milton built his first guitar himself, using just one string attached to the side of his house.
• Despite his nickname, Milton was not small in stature; 'Little' was used to distinguish him from his father, 'Big' Milton.
• He was a savvy businessman, producing many of his own records and running a talent booking agency with his wife.
• Milton had a total of 29 singles and 17 albums on the Billboard charts during his career.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Big Milton Campbell - Father and early musical influence; local blues musician who inspired Milton's initial interest in blues. (N/A (family influence)) [1930s–1940s]
• Eddie Cusic - Leland blues bandleader who gave Milton his first experience playing for audiences. (Live performances in Mississippi) [Late 1940s]
• Ike Turner - Talent scout and mentor who introduced Milton to Sam Phillips at Sun Records, helping launch his recording career. (Touring and Sun Records sessions) [Early 1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Albert King - Milton recruited King to Bobbin Records and collaborated in the St. Louis blues scene. (Bobbin Records projects) [Late 1950s]
• Sonny Boy Williamson II - Performed together in Greenville, Mississippi. (Live performances) [Early 1950s]
• Willie Love - Milton's first recording session was as a sideman for Love. (Jackson recording session (1951)) [1951]

Artists Influenced

• Denise LaSalle - Cited Little Milton as an influence on her blues singing and songwriting style. (General influence on blues and soul blues repertoire) [1970s–2000s]
• Contemporary soul-blues artists - Milton's blend of blues and soul helped shape the genre and inspired later musicians. (General influence on the genre) [1980s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around The World) (Grits Ain't Groceries)
2. Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around The World) (Rockin' The Blues)
3. We're Gonna Make It (We're Gonna Make It)
4. That's What Love Will Make You Do (Tin Pan Alley)
5. Walking The Backstreets And Crying (Walkin' The Back Streets)
6. I Can't Quit You Baby (Grits Ain't Groceries)
7. If You Love Me
8. The Blues Is Alright (Playing for Keeps)
9. 4:59am (Blues 100)
10. Guitar Man (Guitar Man)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #blues, #r&b