Slashing blues, infectious R&B, formulaic rock & roll, moving gospel — keyboardist played all those interrelated styles during a lengthy career that began in Florida and later transported him up to Memphis and Chicago.

had already learned his way around a piano when he entered the Navy in 1943. After the war, he began playing around Tarpon Springs, attending Florida A&M during the late '40s and early '50s. He picked up his nickname while playing a joint in St. Petersburg; the club owner dressed the band up in cowboy duds that begged comparison with a certain murderous outlaw.

A 1952-53 stint in the Air Force found stationed in Greenville, MS. That's where he met young bandleader , who whipped into shape as an entertainer while he sang with 's Kings of Rhythm. also got through the door at Sun Records in 1954, playing guitar on the 's debut waxing "No Teasing Around."

's songwriting skills made him a valuable commodity around Sun — but more as a source for other performers' material later on. His bluesy 1955 outing "When It Rains It Pours" elicited a cover from a few years later at RCA, while "Red Hot" (a takeoff on an old cheerleader's chant from 's school days) became a savage rockabilly anthem revived by for Sun and on Imperial.

After his "Little Fine Healthy Thing" failed to sell, exited Sun to sign with Chicago's Vee-Jay Records in late 1955. Despite first-rate offerings such as the jumping "Every Woman I Know (Crazy 'Bout Automobiles)" and a sophisticated "Don't Start Me to Lying," national recognition eluded at Vee-Jay too.

It was on to Chess in 1958, recording "Holy Mackerel Baby" and the unusual novelty "Woodchuck" (a remake of an earlier Sun single) during his year or so there. 45s for Mad, USA, M-Pac! (where he waxed the dance workout "The Whip"), and Constellation preceded the formation of own logo, Tarpon, in 1966. In addition to own stuff, Tarpon issued 's debut single.

A prolific writer, penned songs for , , , and during the early '60s, often in conjunction with . When recording opportunities slowed, played jazzy R&B in lounges and supper clubs (guitarist was a member of his trio for a while). took Europe by surprise with a dynamic segment on the American Blues Legends 1979 tour. More recently, he's rumored to have reverted to playing gospel in his native state of Florida. A generous 33-track collection, Red Hot: The Sun Years, centered on 's Sun years, but also including tracks from his stay at the Vee Jay and Chess labels, was released by Bear Family Records in 2009. ~ Bill Dahl

Credits for Billy 'The Kid' Emerson