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Guitarist
Cash McCall has segued from gospel to soul to blues over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. Born Morris Dollison, Jr., he found that the best way to exit his rural existence was to enlist in the Army. After completing his hitch, he relocated in Chicago (where his family lived for a time when he was a child). Gospel was Dollison's initial passion -- he sang with
the Gospel Songbirds (he also played guitar with the group, recording with them for Excello in 1964 with fellow future R&B hitmaker
Otis Clay singing lead) and
the Pilgrim Jubilee Singers.
He waxed his first secular single, the two-part workout "Earth Worm," for One-derful Records' M-Pac! subsidiary in 1963 as
Maurice Dollison. In 1966, he made a demo of a soul number called "When You Wake Up" that he had penned with producer
Monk Higgins. He was doubtless shocked to learn of its subsequent release on the Thomas label, billed to one
Cash McCall! The tune proved a national R&B hit, sending the newly christened
McCall on the road with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars (others on the bill:
Lou Christie and
Mitch Ryder).
Similarly tasty R&B follow-ups for Thomas and Checker failed to hit the same commercial heights.
McCall was a valuable session guitarist and composer at Chess, learning the business end of his trade from Chess in-house legend
Willie Dixon.
McCall's blues leanings grew more prominent during the next decade. He cut an LP for Paula in 1973 called Omega Man before relocating to L.A. in 1976. In 1983
McCall released his first solo record in ten years, No More Doggin', and followed it up with
Cash Up Front in 1987.
McCall's ties to
Willie Dixon remained strong, he co-produced
Dixon's Grammy-winning Hidden Charms in 1988 and worked as a sideman with
Dixon's band, the All-Stars.
McCall has since toured frequently as a solo blues artist and has often appeared on stage with the Chicago Rythym and Blues Kings (who were formerly known as
the Mellow Fellows), backed singer
Big Twist, and performed in the Chicago Blues Review. ~ Bill Dahl