Various – Chuck Norris: Right Hand Man – Volume 2 – 1946-1962

The second volume featuring the guitar work of Blues side man Chuck Norris.

Norris originates from the Midwest, born in Kansas City, Missouri on August 11, 1921, and raised in Chicago, where he studied under the fabled music instructor Captain Walter Dyett at Chicago's DuSable High School.

Here, he learned to read music, and his versatility and keeping up with the trends kept him in constant demand, resulting in a career that spanned four decades.

In the mid-40s, Norris relocated to Los Angeles where his performances in local clubs caught the attention of independent labels and producers, particularly saxophonist, songwriter, and producer Maxwell Davis, whose connections across labels like Aladdin, Modern, and Specialty provided Norris with plenty of opportunities for session work.

In the 40s and early 50s, the West Coast served as the cradle of R&B, blending diverse musical genres. It amalgamated small, almost pop-styled combos with the blues of Texas and the big band influences of the Midwest.

Throughout his career, he released just 16 solo tracks. These releases primarily served to fill gaps in the company's catalog rather than being seen as long-term investments, and as so they had limited distribution and were pressed in small quantities, making many of them nearly impossible to find today.

Not many realize that they have heard Chuck's guitar or bass on countless recording sessions by everybody from Charles Brown and Dinah Washington to Percy Mayfield and Jesse Belvin and on bestselling records by Bobby Day, The Robins, The Platters, and The Rivingtons. His resume also includes a session for an X-rated movie, and a soundtrack for the movie 'The Great White Hope'. He even did a month-long stint playing the banjo behind Louis Armstrong and Barbara Streisand on 'Hello Dolly'.

Norris' earliest recordings lean more towards jazz and later the refined urban blues stylings of Floyd Dixon and Charles Brown whose styles owed a lot to the smooth velvety pop of Nat King Cole.

Track Listing:
1. Frank Haywood with Monroe Tucker And His Band: You Gotta Give It Up -   2. Jimmy Witherspoon: When I Had My Money -   3. Percy Mayfield with Monroe Tucker And His Orchestra: Two Years Of Torture -   4. Roy Hawkins: Wine Drinkin' Woman -   5. Floyd Dixon Trio: I'll Be Lonely -   6. Little Willie Littlefield: Hit The Road -   7. Roy Hawkins: Just A Poor Boy -   8. "Chuck" Norris And His Band: Rockin' After Hours -   9. Ira Amos: Blue And Disgusted -   10. Pearl Traylor: Come On Daddy -   11. Little Willie Littlefield: Lump In My Throat -   12. Percy Mayfield: Louisiana -   13. Helen Humes: You Played On My Piano -   14. Amos Milburn And His Aladdin Chickenshackers: Let's Rock A While -   15. Chuck Norris: Messin' Up -   16. Let Me Know -   17. Jimmy Nelson: Married Men Like Sport -   18. The Robins: Riot In Cell Block #9 -   19. Linda Hopkins: Three Time Loser -   20. The Rhythm Cats: Cool Caravan -   21. Lorenzo Holden: Whipped Cream -   22. King Perry: Get Out Of My Face -   23. Etta James: The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry) -   24. Dinah Washington: Don't Hold It Against Me -   25. Rollee McGill:  People Are Talking (pt. 2) -   26. Larry Williams: Make A Little Love -   27. The Rivingtons: Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow -   28. Johnny Guitar Watson: Sweet Loving Mama -