Biography
Born on 16 December 1929 in Baconton, Georgia, Wheeler first developed a passion for the blues in the 1930s. In the early 1950s he picked up the harmonica under the guidance of Buster Brown. After relocating to Chicago in 1954, he began performing in earnest the next year, drawing inspiration from Junior Wells and Little Walter. Although he assembled his initial group, low earnings and friction with fellow musicians gradually reduced his appearances, and he stepped away from regular work until returning to the stage in 1987. A dependable exponent of Chicago blues both as singer and instrumentalist, Wheeler cut sides for the Mr. Blues label in 1976—later reissued by Rooster in 1988—and also recorded for Wolf Records, both under his own name and in support of Eddie King and Artie ‘Blues Boy’ White.