RAYMOND HILL, BLUES SAXOPHONIST, DIES AT 62

[Eric LeBlanc-CISTI]

Dear Blues-L(isteners) :

Raymond Earl Hill, tenor saxophonist, died Tuesday April 16, 1996, at the
Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, Clarksdale, MS. Born April
29, 1933, Clarksdale, MS., he wasn't even 18 when he joined Ike Turner's
Kings Of Rhythm. It's his tenor sax you hear on "Rocket 88" (Chess,'51),
an Ike Turner recording issued as by vocalist/baritone saxophonist
Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats. Receiving no royalities or credit,
Raymond Hill quit Ike Turner and began recording a few sides for
Sam Phillips' Sun label in 1952, which remained unissued until Charly Records
started issuing these Sun recordings in 1970s. His only Sun 78 was recorded
in April 1954 ("The Snuggle"/"Bourbon Street Jump"). During this time, he
also accompanied Billy "The Kid" Emerson (Sun,'54), Jesse Knight (Checker,'54),
Clayton Love (Aladdin,'52), Little Junior Parker (Modern,'52/Sun,'53).
It's his tenor sax you hear on Junior Parker's "Mystery Train". While in
Chicago, he also accompanied Dennis "Long Man" Binder (United,'55) before
rejoining Ike Turner in St. Louis. The resulting 1956/57 Federal recordings
of Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm were all gathered up in 1991 and are
available on Charly CD 263 - a must CD if you're a fan of Billy "I'm Tore Up"
Gayles, Jackie Brenston, Clayton Love, Ike Turner and Raymond Hill. Sometime
in 1956, Hill also accompanied Billy Gayles on Vita Records, issued on the
name Willie King. On August 20/1958, Tina Turner gave birth to his son,
Raymond Craig. Raymond Hill last recorded for David Evans' High Water label
in 1979 where he's accompanied by his son Andrew Hill on guitar.

Services were held on Saturday, April 20 at Mt. Zion AME Church, with burial
in Heavenly Rest Cemetery. He leaves a daughter (Cathy Mitchell), two sons
(Raymond Craig Turner, Raymond Hill), a sister (Marian Montgomery), two
brothers (Aubrey Hill, Charles Hill Jr.) and an aunt who cared for him,
Evelyn Jarrett.

NOTE: The latest Living Blues #128 (July/Aug 1996) has the incorrect date
of April 23rd.