She learned to play bass, and started playing in her husband’s band before joining Lefty Dizz in Shock Treatment, the house-band at the Blue Monday sessions at The Checkerboard Lounge. Her fine Gospel-soaked voice became a much-requested part of the show, and she began to feature as a vocalist in Johnny’s band The Blues Kings.

Their first recording together was on the 1980 album ‘After Work’ for the Alligator label’s subsidiary, Razor Records.

Sylvia had also appeared at Willie Dixon’s Mississippi Blues Festival in Greenville, where she sang and played with Sam Myers, ‘Honeyboy’ Edwards and Robert Jr. Lockwood, which was released as an album and immortalised in a documentary film.

Alligator Records also included four tracks with Sylvia leading her own band on their 1980 album ‘Living Chicago Blues Vol.6’, and she played the Delta Festival again the following year.

The 1982 American Blues Festival tour of Europe had Queen Sylvia on the bill, making several TV appearances and contributing three tracks to the tour album, backed by Jimmy Rogers, Louisiana Red and Carey Bell.

Again she was invited to go back next year as part of the Festival dedicated to the memory of the recently departed Muddy Waters. Around this time, Sylvia also began playing with West-side Chicago guitarist Jimmy Dawkins, touring widely, including Europe, to great acclaim, and Jimmy returned the compliment by appearing on Sylvia’s solo album ‘Midnight Baby’.

Queen Sylvia Embry Discography

Sylvia shares vocals on Johnny’s debut album for the Razor label, and plays some pretty earth-shaking bass lines too.

TROUBLES

Sylvia and Johnny had divorced before he died in 1985 at the age of 53. Sylvia continued to tour regularly, and went round the world with The Mississippi All-Stars in 1986, and during this tour she again shared the stage with the renowned Chicago harp player Sam Myers.

Sadly, in the late 80s Sylvia’s health began to deteriorate, and she passed away in Chicago in 1992, aged just 50.

allaboutbluesmusic.com/queen-sylvia-embry/

Pages: 1 2