Chuck Willis
January 31, 1928 – April 10, 1958
Chuck Willis had a relatively short career as a singer and songwriter of Blues, R&B and early Rock ‘n’ Roll. He recorded for Columbia, Okeh and Atlantic Records over a career that lasted less than ten years before he unexpectedly died. But what a career he had. His hits included “It’s Too Late (She’s Gone),” covered by no less than Otis Redding, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Derek & the Dominoes and Jerry Garcia; “I Feel So Bad,” covered by Elvis Presley; “C.C. Rider,” also recorded by Elvis as well as Bruce Springsteen; and “Oh What A Dream,” later recorded by Ruth Brown and Conway Twitty. Willis suffered from stomach ulcers for many years which likely contributed to his sudden death of peritonitis at just 30.