The city I live in, Greenville, South Carolina, has produced some major music movers and shakers over the years. Gram Parsons formed one of his first bands here. Capricorn Records co-founder Phil Walden was born here. And then there was Esquerita, the single most rocking cat ever to bust out of the Upstate during the 1950’s.
Eskew Reeder, Jr., aka: “Esquerita,” aka: “The Voola,” lived across the street from toddler Jesse Jackson in the Greasy Corner community of Greenville, South Carolina. He went to Sterling High School and played piano in E.W. Watson’s Tabernacle Baptist Church. He was 6’ 2” tall, and openly gay - during the Eisenhower 1950’s - and wore a monster of a huge pompadour.
Reeder cut his high school education short, and moved from playing locally with band teacher Bill Dover to performing as piano player for The Heavenly Echos, a gospel outfit based in New York. Following the break up of that group, Eskew joined Little Sister Rosa, a faith healer who’s specialty was selling “blessed” bread, in carrying her message throughout the south.
Then, fate intervened. The scene was Macon, Georgia. The year was 1954. Richard Penniman was sitting in a bus station at 3 a.m., looking for a good time, when he saw the strangest sight of his young life. Little Sister Rosa stepped off of the bus, and behind her came the 6’2” Eskew, topped off with another six inches of hair. That prophetic meeting would change the face of rock and roll forever. Penniman, aka: Little Richard took the bulk of his image from Eskew. Eskew taught him piano tricks and deeply influenced the sound that the country would soon adore.
Little Richard, in his biography by Charles White, recounts his meeting with “S.Q. Reeder” at the Greyhound station, and goes on to credit Eskew with teaching him to play the piano. Apparently, Richard was more than a little taken aback by the big rock and roll man.
By 1955, Eskew was a regular at The Owl Club on Washington Street in Greenville, appearing as Professor Eskew Reeder. In another first, he actually cut the first record by a black artist in Greenville at the old WESC radio studios, which netted him a contract with Capitol Records, who in turn changed his name to Esquerita. It was thanks to Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps member Paul Peek that Eskew was asked to cut those original demos at WESC. Music journalist (and seventise rock star with Brownsville Station) Cub Koda described the Capitol recordings as "some of the most untamed and unabashed sides ever issued by a major label."
Esquerita’s biggest hit was 1958’s “Rockin’ the Joint,” not exactly a top-ten hit, but a definite monster. During the early 60’s, Esquerita went through a number of name changes, including S.K. Reeder and The Magnificent Molochi, a persona which called for him to dye his giant pompadour flaming red.
“Dew Drop In” was recorded by Reeder in 1969, but fizzled. Little Richard recorded the song a year later, and Eskew depressingly watched it climb the charts.
Eskew later returned to New York city, where he worked days as a parking attendent while playing piano at night. In October, 1986, Eskew died in a Harlem hospital in New York from complications arising from AIDS. His body was unclaimed, and he was buried in a pauper’s grave.
Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo
Note: Much of the above story appeared in my 1997 book, Carolina Dreams: The Musical Legacy of Upstate South Carolina (Marshall Tucker Entertainment Publishing)
kobe016 says...
Recently we provide all of you consumers a new set of beats by dre, which is definitey designed with high tech as well as the newly technology. In order to follow the fashion trend and the market demand, suchbeats by dr drewhich is also thebeats headphoneswhich are extrem popular this year. What’s more, it seems to continue to popular among the consumers, especially for these youn people. As for the beats bydr. dre headphonessuch high tech that applied so that meet for your some specific purpose. Due to the fact that we are a greatdr dre headphonesonline store, which earns high reputation among the consumers. You can get the excellent products here, as well as themonster beats.
If you are also want to buy the Cheap p90x, then our website woule be your best choice due to the fact that we earn high reputtaion among the consumers. Here we also provide the Discount P90Xfor all of these people who want to make oneself more b and healthy. Attached the P90X DVD. For these P90x for saleall products that come in high qaulity as well as the fashion trend. Once you own the p90x dvd set, then you definitely get to know how to use because we have the guide inside, also the Discount P90x dvd. Insanity which also quite a lot of people pay much attention to. Shaun T's Insanity Workout Deluxe Package 13DVDwhich seems to have also great effect on one’s health. So just come here and buy the Cheap Insanity.Due to the fact that these designer handbags that sold at high price, so people would look for the cheap coach bags. Definitely these products that sold in the online stores that also come in high qaulity. As well as the discount coach bags. However there are also many replica coach handbags that appear on line, so when you choose the coach outlet online, you need to carefull enough. We are a great coach on sale, which earn high reputation among the consuemrs. So you can turn to our website for your favorite products. Definitely the COACH HANDBAGS that come in different from the REPLICA COACH HANDBAGS. To get the excellent Cheap COACH HANDBAGS, please check out here.
More and more people nowadays turn to purchase the chanel bags due to the unique materials that applied and the styles that come in. however the price of these chanel handbags that are high, so people look for the cheap handbags. However we are also a great bags outlet which has earned high reputation among the consumers. In our handbags outlet, you not only get the handbag, but also the walltes as well as the luggage. These handbags that are all designer handbags. Including the Chanel Bags. It is said that in 2010, the Chanel 2.55 Flap and the Chanel 2010 New which seems to be extrem popular and definitely sold well in the market.
chanel handbags that also sold well in the market in 2010 which due to the excellent design such as the high quality as well as the unique materials that applied. Also these chanel purses that earn high reputation and popularity among the consumers. However the high price may back some people. And we are a great chanel online storewhere you can get the excellent chanel products at much lower price. Some of the chanel handbagthat sold in the chanel outlet that at low price seems to be popular, and sold well. The high reputation of the chanel brand, so you also can find the Chanel Jewelry as well as the Chanel Handbags that come with high qaulity and the fahsion trend, which make the peoducts come in unique style that appeal us a lot. Including the Chanel Cambon.
The gucci company has without fail designed some of the most breath taking Gucci Watchesavailable to the public, continually wowing watch fanatics and fashion enthusiasts with every new style it produces. As for the Gucci Ladies Watcheswhich products that you can find in the Gucci Watches Salehowever the price is very expensive so some of you may turn to the online shopping for the Discount Gucci Watches. These online Gucci Watches On Salethat also provide you the excellent Gucci Watches UK which is considered as the most popular ones in the line. There are many different versions for the consumers to choose from, such as the Gucci 101 Gand the Gucci 101 Chrono. However it is the Gucci 114that people all love the appearance it come out.
In the moncler sale you can find excellent winter products now. due to the fact that the whether is getting more and more colder, so all stores begain to introduce the new winter clothes. Among them there is the moncler on sale. Where you can get the moncler jackets cheap. High qaulity as well as the most newly tech that make the jackets good at keepping wars,. In the moncler outlet, these cheap moncler jackets sold well and become more and more popular. What’s more, we are also a great moncler outlet store online which earn high reputation and high popularity. If you want to purchase the Moncler Jackets Mens, our website woule be your best choice. Additional, the Moncler Jackets Vestwhich also seems to be extrtem popular in 2010, also come to the Moncler Jackets Outlet and own yourself one.
gravyboat says...
Thank you Michael. I am an OLD fan of Little Richard and had read about Esquerita in Richards bio. Now I need some of his records.
If you aren't registered, Register Now to start leaving comments.