Andrew Tibbs

b. Melvin Andrew Grayson, 2 Feb 1929, Columbus, Ohio, USA, d. 5 Might 1991, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Although little-known right now, Tibbs was a significant contributor to the first success from the Aristocrat record label, the precursor of Chess Information and Checker Information. His dad, Rev. S.A. Grayson, was among Chicago’s most prominent Baptist ministers as well as the youthful Tibbs sang in choirs aimed by Mahalia Jackson and Ruth Jones (who later on married his sibling, Robert, and transformed her name to Dinah Washington). He structured his blues performing design on Roy Dark brown, Ivory Joe Hunter and Gatemouth Moore. He was discovered while singing on the Macomba Lounge by owner Leonard Chess, who was simply along the way of shopping for Aristocrat Information. Still aged just 18, both edges of his initial single, ‘Bilbo Is normally Inactive’ and ‘Union Guy Blues’, triggered controversy; the very first was regarded as a criticism from the lately deceased Mississippi segregationist senator, Theodore Bilbo, while regional Chicago teamster unions objected towards the b-side. Tibbs documented another six singles for Aristocrat, including ‘Wedded Guy Blues’, and ‘You Can’t Gain’ for Chess and ‘Rock and roll Savoy Rock and roll’ for Peacock. After an unissued program for Savoy, he and his sibling Kenneth documented an individual for Atco Information in 1956, which highlighted Ruler Curtis on his first Atlantic Information program. Tibbs’ last one, ‘Rock Hearted Girl’, was documented for M-Pac! in 1965. He retired from performing thereafter and proved helpful for West Electric powered for the others of his lifestyle.