Little Willie John

Standing slightly more than five feet tall, Little Willie John scored his first hit at age 17. That 1955 R&B smash - "All Around the World" (also known as "Grits Ain't Groceries") - reflected his status as a seasoned veteran of several leading jazz/R&B big bands. John went on to record such noble rockers as "I'm Shakin'" (covered by the Blasters) and "Leave My Kitten Alone" (covered by the Beatles). However, his greatest success came when he set his torchy, gospel-drenched tenor to slow blues ("Need Your Love So Bad"), standards ("Sleep"), heartbreak ballads ("Talk to Me" and "Let Them All Talk"), and his flame-broiled original version of the oft-covered "Fever" (Peggy Lee, Madonna, the Cramps, among others). John was only 30 when he died - reportedly of either pneumonia or a heart attack - while imprisoned for manslaughter in 1968. That same year, James Brown recorded an album called Thinking of Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things.