Joe Liggins

American R&B, jazz, and blues pianist, vocalist and composer. He was the leader of Jimmy Liggins.
Born: July 9, 1916 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, USA
Died: July 26, 1987 in Lynwood, California, USA

"The Honeydripper" topped the race chart, later called the R&B chart, for 18 weeks in 1945. More than 60 years later, "The Honeydripper" remains tied with Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" for the longest-ever stay at the top of that chart. It reportedly logged two million sales. Liggins had a series of further R&B chart hits on the Exclusive (2) label, including "Left a Good Deal in Mobile", "Got a Right to Cry", "Tanya" and "Blow Mr. Jackson". He signed with Specialty Records in 1950, where he gained more hits, including "Rag Mop", "Boom-Chick-A-Boogie", "Pink Champagne", and "Little Joe's Boogie". "Pink Champagne" also reached number 30 on the pop chart, and both "Pink Champagne" and "Got A Right To Cry" sold over one million copies and were awarded gold discs.

Although Liggins' success stopped in the late 1950s, he continued to perform until his death following a stroke at the age of 71.