Diligently, he worked the country for the next eight years, speaking at small-town Kiwanis and Elks clubs, doing favors for a myriad of Republican candidates, amassing a pile of IOU's in his party. (Quelle: Die Zeit 2000)
In der R&B-Gruppe Beale Streeters traf er auf Johnny Ace und Junior Parker und machte seine ersten Singleaufnahmen ("Loving Blues", "IOU Blues") mit Ike Turner. (Quelle: Systhema Rockmusiklexikon 1999)