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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 ZJUSTIS, Bill(b 14 Oct. '26, Birmingham AL; d 15 July '82) Alto sax, arranger, producer. Arranged campus music at Tulane (New Orleans), Arizona U.; went to work at Sun Records in Memphis '57 as staff musician and producer; hit with his "Raunchy' (first called "Backwoods'), with co-author Sid Manker on guitar: leased to Philips, it made no. 2 USA/11 UK '57-8, paving the way for other rock'n'roll instrumentals. He arranged for Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis at Sun; there were hits but the more free- wheeling era of off-the-wall genius like that of "Cowboy Jack' Clement was over as Sun tried to hang onto national pop audience. Justis formed own label Play Me (failed); worked for RCA/Groove (with Rich again), to Nashville on Monument, ABC (prod. Fats Domino '63), Sound Stage (hits for the Dixiebelles '63-4). |