Birth: Sep. 15, 1915
Memphis
Shelby County
Tennessee, USA
Death: Feb. 24, 1988, France
Blues Pianist. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, as a young man he frequented Beale Street, where he picked up hints from other piano players. He lived in Helena, Arkansas before moving to Chicago in 1939, where in 1940 he cut one of his trademark tunes, "Beer Drinking Woman" for Bluebird using his nickname, "Memphis Slim". Later that year he teamed up with guitarist "Big Bill" Broonzy and the two musicians played and recorded in Chicago until 1944. It was then that Chatman formed his first group, "The Houserockers" and recorded such classics as "Lend Me Your Love" and "Rockin' The House" During the 1940s and 1950s, he recorded for a number of labels, including Miracle, United, Chess, Vee-Jay, Bluesville, and Folkways. He also performed as soloist and with artists such as Willie Dixon and Sonny Boy Williamson. After an European tour in 1962, he moved to Paris where he recorded and performed regularly. (bio by: Kim Inboden)
