Wesley Willis
Appearance
Wesley Willis | |
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![]() Willis in October 2000 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Wesley Lawrence Willis |
Born | May 31, 1963 |
Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
Died | August 21, 2003 Skokie, Illinois | (aged 40)
Genres | Outsider music, electronic, punk rock, alternative |
Instruments | Vocals, keyboards |
Years active | 1976–2003 (as artist) 1989–2003 (as musician) |
Labels | Alternative Tentacles, American Recordings |
Website | Wesley Willis on Alternative Tentacles |
Wesley Willis (May 31, 1963 – August 21, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter and visual artist from Chicago.
Willis began a career as an underground singer-songwriter in the outsider music tradition, with songs featuring his bizarre, humorous and often obscene lyrics sung over the auto accompaniment feature on his Technics KN electronic keyboard.[1][2][3]
On August 21, 2003, Willis died due to complications from chronic myelogenous leukemia in Skokie, Illinois. He was 40 years old.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Wesley Willis's Joy Rides · Wesley Willis Bio". Wesleywillissjoyrides.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
- ↑ "Bands". Alternative Tentacles. Archived from the original on 2006-04-19. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
- ↑ "Say Rah! Discussing the Daddy of Rock n' Roll with the Directors of "Wesley Willis's Joy Rides"". Y Marks the Spot. 2010-07-31. Archived from the original on 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
Other websites
[change | change source]- Wesley Willis Biography and MP3s at Alternative Tentacles Archived 2006-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
- monzy.org Wesley Willis Biography including Wesley Willis Song Generator Archived 2006-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Press release Archived 2015-01-04 at the Wayback Machine from Willis's good friend Jello Biafra in memory of Willis
- Art of Wesley Willis Archived 2017-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, drawings by Willis of scenes in Chicago, as well as a sampling of his music.
- Wesley Willis Art Archived 2018-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, drawings by Willis of scenes in Chicago
- Loved Like a Milkshake A Wesley Willis tribute album by a variety of artists