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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLEWIS, Smiley(b Amos Overton Lemmon, 5 July '20; d Oct. '66) R&B singer. Contemporary of Fats Domino, with same label (Imperial) and prod. (Dave Bartholomew). Best known for original version of 'I Hear You Knocking' with Huey 'Piano' Smith at keyboard (Bartholomew composer credit; no. 2 R&B chart '55; awful cover by TV actress Gale Storm made no. 2 pop chart; Dave Edmunds took song to no. 2 USA/no. 1 UK '70). 'One Night Of Sin' with cleaned-up lyric became 'One Night', one of Elvis Presley's better efforts '57. Also recorded with Allen Toussaint for lesser labels; died of stomach cancer. Wonderful voice in R&B context, but lacked warm colour of Domino's; back- room feeling on 'Knocking' perhaps too tough, not pretty enough for pop chart then. Enthusiasm of Londoner Bill Baker resulted in compilation Shame Shame Shame '70; two vols of Smiley Lewis Story released on United Artists '77, on KC CDs '90; four-CD set with book Shame Shame Shame on Bear Family. |