Willie Egan
October 1, 1933 – August 5, 2004
Born in Louisiana but raised in Los Angeles, Willie Egan began playing the piano while still a pre-teen, and by the time he turned 15, he had a record deal and was cutting his first sides. Over the next decade, Egan would release such early R&B gems as “Wow Wow” and “Wear Your Black Dress.” Unfortunately, Egan never broke out as he should have – some blame poor management and sub par distribution of his records. By the late ’60s he was all but forgotten, working as a hospital orderly. In the early ’80s, Egan presumed dead, was located down-and-out in Los Angeles by a British record label head who arranged for him to perform in the UK, sparking a minor comeback. A live album of that event as well as another studio album followed shortly thereafter. On August 5, 2004 Walter Egan passed away after years suffering with cancer.
What You Should Own
