Biography
In 1957 a humorous narrative centered on the hapless figure "Flat Foot Sam" briefly elevated Oscar "TV Slim" Wills to commercial viability. The character's extended exploits outlasted Wills's fleeting moment of visibility, yet he kept releasing material across the 1960s.
Residing in Houston at the time, Wills absorbed influences from harmonica stylists DeFord Bailey and both Sonny Boy Williamsons along with guitarist Guitar Slim. He assigned an early composition, "Dolly Bee," to Don Robey for Junior Parker's Duke Records session before launching his own career as a performer by founding Speed Records, the imprint that would carry the bulk of his output during the next twelve years.
The debut edition of "Flat Foot Sam" surfaced in 1957 on the modest Shreveport concern Cliff Records. Stan Lewis, later proprietor of Jewel/Paula Records, supplied the vivid stage name TV Slim, which matched Wills's slender build and occupation as a television technician.
Sufficient local sales led Checker to pick up "Flat Foot Sam" for wider distribution, though the Chicago label found the track too loose and directed Wills to recut it in tighter form in New Orleans with Cosimo's studio ensemble. Saxophonist Robert "Barefootin'" Parker delivered a robust solo, Paul Gayten handled piano, and Charles "Hungry" Williams supplied a brisk second-line groove; the refined take, issued on the Chess subsidiary Argo Records, became Wills's strongest seller.
Afterward he issued a steady stream of 45s on Speed, Checker, Pzazz, USA, Timbre, Excell, and Ideel that continued the saga via "Flatfoot Sam Made a Bet," "Flat Foot Sam Met Jim Dandy," and "Flat Foot Sam #2." Albert Collins subsequently covered the Speed original "Don't Reach Cross My Plate." Wills died in a 1969 automobile collision outside Klingman, AZ, while driving back to Los Angeles after a Chicago engagement.
Residing in Houston at the time, Wills absorbed influences from harmonica stylists DeFord Bailey and both Sonny Boy Williamsons along with guitarist Guitar Slim. He assigned an early composition, "Dolly Bee," to Don Robey for Junior Parker's Duke Records session before launching his own career as a performer by founding Speed Records, the imprint that would carry the bulk of his output during the next twelve years.
The debut edition of "Flat Foot Sam" surfaced in 1957 on the modest Shreveport concern Cliff Records. Stan Lewis, later proprietor of Jewel/Paula Records, supplied the vivid stage name TV Slim, which matched Wills's slender build and occupation as a television technician.
Sufficient local sales led Checker to pick up "Flat Foot Sam" for wider distribution, though the Chicago label found the track too loose and directed Wills to recut it in tighter form in New Orleans with Cosimo's studio ensemble. Saxophonist Robert "Barefootin'" Parker delivered a robust solo, Paul Gayten handled piano, and Charles "Hungry" Williams supplied a brisk second-line groove; the refined take, issued on the Chess subsidiary Argo Records, became Wills's strongest seller.
Afterward he issued a steady stream of 45s on Speed, Checker, Pzazz, USA, Timbre, Excell, and Ideel that continued the saga via "Flatfoot Sam Made a Bet," "Flat Foot Sam Met Jim Dandy," and "Flat Foot Sam #2." Albert Collins subsequently covered the Speed original "Don't Reach Cross My Plate." Wills died in a 1969 automobile collision outside Klingman, AZ, while driving back to Los Angeles after a Chicago engagement.