![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWUuxRt5PwXaZPsr06XqIRyDgWaMNyP9_gzCCKS8NfiKodgcVnjdaJfXwXPCEY77P4hzswLs8l_90zAf25DWL45QgBW0x1HDiA9CBqTvLj-H32EL1Mxxf1ho24cTIImK5KEitg23LpzZ_/s1600/Louis+Myers.jpg)
The Aces was one of the earliest and most influential of the electric Chicago blues band in the 1950s.[1] Led by the guitarist brothers Louis and Dave Myers, natives of Byhalia, Mississippi, the brothers originally performed under the name The Little Boys; with the subsequent addition of harmonica player Junior Wells, they rechristened themselves the Three Deuces, followed by the Three Aces. The 1950 enlistment of drummer Fred Below prompted another name change, this time to the Four Aces; finally, to simplify matters once and for all, the group performed as just The Aces.[2] Influenced in large part by jazz, they developed an urbane, sophisticated style well ahead of its time; in particular, Below's refined rhythms led to the rise of the blues shuffle beat, and helped launch the drums to a new prominence within the blues band hierarchy.[
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aces_(blues_band)
The Aces - That's Allright - Louis Myers , Dave Myers
http://youtu.be/rtVo4FPoRsU
LOUIS MYERS - WOMAN'S LIB
http://youtu.be/lfuSh0DjqnM
Louis Myers & The Aces - Bluesy
http://youtu.be/Ga8ZnUcb_Nw
YOU ARE SO FINE - THE ACES
Louis Myers : Harmonica-Gu,Vo
Dave Myers : Bass
Freddie Below : Drums
and special guest : Sammy Lawhorn - Guitar
and special guest : Eddie Taylor - Guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4K8MKb22_4&feature=share&list=PL6E31215DDDBA9654
The Aces - The Aces Shuffle - Louis Myers - Dave Myers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dyP26IW2R8&feature=share&list=AL94UKMTqg-9BP3-PrImUwhd8fPA_3JSlq
Take a Little Walk with Me - The Aces - Louis Myers - Dave Myers - Fred Bellow
http://youtu.be/fRhtD8kmBKM
![](http://yi355.cside.com/chicago_2/aces.jpg)
The Aces &
Associates
The Aces
were considered to be the top Blues backing unit in Chicago. Its basic lineup
included brothers
Louis and Dave Myers, and in its definitive form, Fred Below on
drums, though at times there would be other drummers.
What made the Aces so special is that they seemed to fit into any
Chicago Blues lineup, and raised the musicianship to that genre's
apex.
Formed initially with Junior Wells as their singer/harmonica player,
this band became most famous when
Little Walter left Muddy Waters and struck out on his own, choosing
the Aces for his backup band. The recordings made with Little
Walter
and the Aces would define the direction of the Chicago Blues
Harmonica band format, and are considered evergreen classics.
Throughout the 1950s, up until the 1970s, the Aces would appear on a
multitude of recording sessions, both as a standalone band
and a crack
backing unit. Here are some memorable photos and clippings of the Aces and their
associates to enjoy.
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Aces
promo photo from the 1970s - note that they are standing on Lincoln Avenue right
in front of Wise Fool's Pub
Photo
courtesy Kevin Johnson of Delmark Records
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The Aces, portrait for the Black & Blue Label photo shoot, early
1970's
L-R: Fred Below, Dave Myers, Louis Myers
Photo by Jean-Pierre Tahmazian
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Aces Chicago Beat album cover for the Black and Blue Label
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Louis Myers at Louise's, South Side Chicago, summer of
1975
The Aces held a regular Blue Monday Jam there during that
time
Photo by Bob Corritore
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L-R: Saxophonist John Cameron, singer Bobby Jones (who has
recently resurfaced on the Mannish Boys CD, Big Plans,
on Delta Groove
Records), Dave Myers, Odie Payne, Jr., and Louis Myers, 1959
Photo from Dave Myers' personal collection, courtesy Scott
Dirks
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Freddie Hall, ABCO (Cobra) recording session
Per Scott Dirks, Dave said this photo was from the session at Cobra's
studio on West Roosevelt Road,
which would probably make it 1956. But, since there are no
microphones, it is possibly at a rehearsal there.
It doesn't look like a gig at any rate. The drummer is Eugene Lyons
(according to his union card, but mispronounced by
Louis in an interview, and then known forever after as Eugene
LOUNGE.) Pianist is Freddie Hall, Willie Dixon on bass guitar,
and possibly Eli Toscano behind the drummer. Dave and Louis are in
the center
Photo
from Dave Myers' personal collection, courtesy Scott Dirks
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Dave and Louis, 1954
This is from a gig that Dave Myers said was in Detroit, where Little
Walter and the Aces shared the bill with
Muddy Waters' band; therefore there are two drum kits.
Photo from Dave Myers' personal collection, courtesy Scott
Dirks
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Louis Myers and Jimmie Lee Robinson, at St. Mary's cemetery
in
Evergreen Park, IL, on February 15, 1992, for the
Little Walter grave marker dedication
Photo by Scott Dirks
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Little Walter with guitar under his leg
Britain, mid 1960s
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Dave and Louis Myers
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Late 1950s ad in the Chicago Defender
Photo courtesy Scott Dirks
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Myers brothers at Rosa's
Photo by Scott Dirks
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Dave Myers and Scott Dirks, a great harmonica player and
co-author of the book Blues With A Feeling: The Little Walter
Story
Photo courtesy Scott Dirks
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1970s
photo of Louis Myers and Fred Below
Photo
courtesy of the André Hobus library - Thanks to photographers Bob
Vanderschueren, Claude Meyer, Annique Massange, André Hobus, and Marc De
Jonghe
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Fred Below
Photo Courtesy Scott Dirks
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Louis Myers
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L-R: Eddie Boyd, B.B. King, Miss Hi-Fi, Earl Hooker, Louis Myers, and
B.B.'s drummer
Robert's Show Lounge, Chicago, 1958
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Excerpt from the Chicago Defender
October 20, 1956
Photo courtesy Scott Dirks
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Promotional flyer for Dave Myers' 1998 Black Top Album
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Little Walter and The Aces appearing at The Apollo
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The Aces March 1972
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