Lloyd Price wrote “Stagger Lee” in 1958 based on the famous urban legend about the two men, Billy Lyons and Stag Lee Shelton, who got into a fight over a Stetson hat over a century ago. The widely-known folkloric story about two men fighting over a hat was widely known, and Price believed it would make for a great blues song.
The inspiration for the song came from a street corner where Price heard kids talking about the Stagger Lee legend. Price decided to write a song based on the story, even though he had no formal training in songwriting.
He wrote the lyrics and melody himself and rearranged several of the familiar elements of the legend to suit the narrative structure of a popular song. The resulting single, “Stagger Lee,” quickly rose to the top of the charts, becoming a hit for both Lloyd Price and for those who hadn’t heard the Stagger Lee legend before.
The success of the song expanded the legend of Stagger Lee, and the classic phrase “Stagger Lee Shot Billy” is still known by many people today.
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What is the story behind Stagger Lee?
Stagger Lee (sometimes referred to as “Stagolee” or “Stackalee”) is a popular American folk song about the murder of Billy Lyons in St. Louis, Missouri on Christmas Day in 1895. The song tells the story of how Lee Shelton, who was better known as Stagger Lee, had won a Stetson hat from a man named Billy Lyons in a dice game.
When Billy refused to give up the hat, a fight ensued, and Stagger Lee eventually shot him dead.
The song was first published in the Big Harp Charter, Volume 2, in 1913 in black communities near St. Louis, where Shelton had lived. Since then, numerous versions of the song have been recorded by famous musicians, including Furry Lewis, Mississippi John Hurt, and both Robert Johnson and Nick Cave.
Though the song has many different variations and interpretations, it has nonetheless become a popular part of American folk culture and continues to be a popular subject of conversation today.
Who wrote the original Stagger Lee?
The original “Stagger Lee” was written by African American folk songwriter Frank “F. W. ” Silas in 1895 as “Stack O’Lee Blues. ” The song tells the story of the fatal encounter between “Stag” Lee Shelton and Billy Lyons, two St.
Louis-area men who had gotten into a dispute over a hat. It was one of the first folk songs to become part of popular culture, eventually becoming a hit record in the 1950s. It has since been covered by countless artists and has become a classic.
What was the Stagger Lee controversy?
The Stagger Lee controversy refers to the debate surrounding the American folk song “Stagger Lee. ” The song tells the story of two men—Stagger Lee (or “Stag” Lee) and Billy Lyons—who get into an argument over a hat.
In the ensuing fight, Stagger Lee shoots and kills Billy Lyons. The song’s content sparked a debate about whether it should be allowed on the radio.
The controversy began in 1977 when a disc jockey in Jacksonville, Florida, received letters from listeners who were concerned about the violent and sexual themes in the lyrics. The FCC then began to criticize the song’s lyrics and issued warning letters to the radio stations that played it.
The fact that “Stagger Lee” was a folk song and therefore part of American culture complicated the discussion. Some argued that censoring it was an attack on freedom of speech. Others defended the song’s artistic merit and the need to preserve the cultural heritage of African-Americans.
The debate subsided in the 1980s, but the controversy has never been fully resolved. Some stations still refuse to play the song, preferring to stick to more family-friendly musical fare. But for many, the Stagger Lee controversy serves as a reminder of the power of music to spark debate and engage audiences.
How many versions of Stagger Lee are there?
There have been a multitude of versions of the folk song, “Stagger Lee” (also known as “Stagolee” and “Stackalee”), since it first began circulating through African-American communities in the early 1900s.
One of the earliest and most influential was recorded by blues singer Ma Rainey in 1923. Over the years, the song has been interpreted and performed in a variety of musical styles, from folk and blues to punk, reggae, and hip-hop.
Variations of “Stagger Lee” have been recorded by numerous iconic musicians, including Billy Murray, Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Minnie, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Bob Dylan, and David Bromberg. The lyrics and tone of the song were frequently updated to reflect the artist’s distinct style and era of music.
Willie Dixon even wrote a version of the song specifically for the 1972 film, “Blacula. ” In 1975, it was famously covered by Jerry Lee Lewis. The Clovers’s version in 1958 and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’s rendition in 1996 are less traditional interpretations of the song, structurally speaking.
No matter what style or spin – including comedic – any given artist might take, “Stagger Lee” remains a popular and timeless source of musical inspiration.
Who played Stagger Lee?
The song “Stagger Lee” has been interpreted by a number of different musicians. The earliest recorded version of the song was produced by Frank Hutchison in 1929. However, perhaps the most iconic version of the song is the one released by Lloyd Price in 1959.
Price’s version also known as “Stagger Lee (Sheehography)” reached number one on both the R&B and Pop charts, making it one of the most popular versions of the song. Later, the song was reinterpreted by a wide variety of musicians including Bob Dylan, Ike and Tina Turner, Van Morrison and Grateful Dead.
Most recently, in 2017, the hip-hop artist Childish Gambino released a cover of the song.
Who is Billy Lyons?
Billy Lyons is a professional musician and entertainer from the US. Born in Louisiana, Billy’s music career has taken him all over the world, including long stints performing in China and Indonesia. Primarily a blues guitarist and vocalist, he has recorded two full length albums, both of which have been recognized by the All Music Guide.
Billy has toured with numerous blues and rock acts over the years, such as Robert Cray and Eric Clapton, and he continues to tour today. In addition, he has been featured in numerous music festivals and clubs, as well as collaborating with world renowned producers.
Outside of his music career, Billy is an avid traveler, having visited more than 45 countries. He is also a big supporter of the local communities in his travels, donating money and time to schools and other fundraising efforts.
Billy currently lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife, three children and two dogs.
Is the song Stagger Lee based on a true story?
Yes, “Stagger Lee” is based on a true story. The song was written by legendary blues musician Lloyd Price and first recorded in 1958. It is based on an actual incident that took place in 1895 in St. Louis, Missouri, when two African-American men, Billy Lyons and William “Stag” Lee Shelton, got into a heated argument over a stolen hat.
The altercation resulted in Lyons being shot and killed by Shelton.
The song tells the story from Shelton’s perspective, claiming he was forced to shoot Lyons in self-defense. While details of the event vary depending on which version of the song is being sung, they all focus on the same basic storyline.
Price’s version was an immediate hit, eventually earning a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018. It has been covered by numerous artists over the years and remains one of the most memorable songs of the genre.
Despite its violent subject matter, it remains a classic in the blues world.
Who did the heart punch in wrestling?
In professional wrestling, the heart punch was a term used to describe a punch to an opponent’s throat, usually delivered as a potential finisher. The technique was popularized by Jerry “The King” Lawler in the mid-1980s and early 1990s.
The late British wrestler “Big Daddy” Shirley Crabtree also used this finisher during the same period, although it had been used earlier, such as by former World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Champion Ivan Koloff.
In the WWF, Lawler’s “heart punch” was modified for television to become a reverse punch instead of a punch to the throat. This was done for safety reasons, since the traditional “throat punch” was deemed too dangerous.
Many wrestling fans voiced the possibility of a heart punch becoming a finisher again, along with the Iron Claw (a modified headlock).
In more recent years, numerous professional wrestlers have used the heart punch, such as The Ultimate Warrior, Lance Storm, Jeff Jarrett, Seth Rollins, among others. Jeff Hardy has even used the heart punch within his “Twist of Fate” finisher.
For modern day wrestling, the heart punch is obviously a much safer move than the traditional throat punch.
What year did Stagger Lee come out?
The original version of the song “Stagger Lee” was released in 1895 and was sung by “Barbecue Bob” Roberts. It became one of the first folk songs to become a commercial success and is credited with being the first blues song ever released.
It was also one of the first recordings to become popular in both the African-American and white communities in the United States. The song has been covered by many different artists over the years and has been adapted by several different genres including blues, jazz, classic rock, and country.
Some of the notable artists that have recorded versions of the song are The Grateful Dead, Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal, and Van Morrison.
How was after the ball originally distributed?
After the original distribution of the ball, it quickly became one of the most popular toys for children. Word about the ball quickly spread, and it soon became popular among children and adults alike.
Kids used the ball for a variety of activities, from playing a game of catch or bouncing it off of walls and the ground, to even using it for stunts and tricks. With its bright colors and customizability, it was a favorite amongst kids and adults of all ages.
A new trend even evolved over time, in which people printed logos onto the ball to mark their items of choice and show off their sports teams or favorite products. As the ball grew in popularity, it was distributed all over the world and was made available in most toy stores and shops.
