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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 ZMAYFIELD, Percy(b 12 Aug. '20, Minden LA; d 11 Aug. '84, LA) Singer, songwriter, pianist. Son of dancer father, singer mother; settled in Houston TX mid-'30s; to West Coast late '40s, records for Specialty with those of Amos Milburn, Cecil Gant, Jesse Belvin, etc, helped pioneer modern urban R&B that soon had crossover appeal. The biggest of his seven top 10 R&B hits '50--52 were 'Please Send Me Someone To Love (no. 1) and 'Lost Love' (no. 2); the former became a standard, recorded by Joe Williams with Count Basie, then a hit for the Moonglows '57. Recorded for Chess, Imperial, Ray Charles's Tangerine label '62--7, wrote hits for Charles ('Hit The Road, Jack' no. 1 '61; 'Hide Nor Hair' no. 20 '62). Recorded for RCA (Blues And Then Some '71), Atlantic, TRC (Bought Blues); often at Chantilly Lace Club LA mid-'70s. Compilations on Specialty, Timeless, Winner. |