Lillian Offitt
(Nashville, Tennessee & Chicago, Illinois)
Discography:
Lillian Offitt
1957 – Miss You So / If You Only Knew (Excello 2104)
1957 - Just Lonesome! That’s All / Darlin’ I'll Forgive You (Excello
2124)
Lillian Offitt (& Grp.)
1958 - Can't Go On / Darlin’ Please Don't Change (Excello 2139)
Lillian Offitt
1960 - Will My Man Be Home Tonight / The Man Won't Work (Chief 7012)
Lillian Offitt (& Grp.)
1960 - My Man Is A Lover / Oh Mama (Chief 7015)
Lillian Offitt (& Grp.) / Lillian Offitt
1961 – Troubles / Shine On (Chief 7029)
Biography:
Lillian Offitt was born on November 4, 1938 near Nashville, Tennessee.
She had always been interested in music and began to seriously think of being a
performer during her days as a student at Tennessee State University. On the
evidence of her half dozen releases, Lillian Offitt was a plain but lusty blues
shouter, of small stature and commensurate talent. She was still attending
college when she visited the offices of Nashboro Records in the hope of making
a gospel record. Owner Ernie Young suggested that she try secular music. In
March of 1957 she made her first record for the Nashboro subsidiary Excello
with “Miss You So” b/w “If You Only Knew” released on # 2104.
The 'A' side “Miss You So” started out as a good seller on the R & B
charts. In June Offitt went to Chicago and made some personal appearances in
support of her record which shows up as a top seller in that city. In August in
Gary, Indiana, a big show honoring Vivian Carter on her eighth anniversary at
radio station WWCA included Lillian Offitt performing live. Also on the bill were
Magic Sam, The Spaniels, Dale Hawkins, The Dells, and many others. During Labor
Day week in Chicago, Lillian appeared with Al Benson at the Regal Theater along
with Red Prysock, Sil Austin, Amos Milburn, Ivory Joe Hunter, and The Spaniels.
In September Lillian signed on for a five week tour through the south and
southwest along with Lowell Fulson, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, and Ernie
Freeman. The tour would kick off in Oklahoma City.
Late in the year Lillian Offitt moved to Chicago where she had a steady
number of club dates and soon recorded her second side for Excello Records. “Just
Lonesome! That's All” b/w “Darling I'll Forgive You” on # 2124. Through the
early months of 1958 Offitt tried to repeat the success of “Miss You So” and in
the spring Excello released “Darling Please Don't Change” b/w “Can't Go On” on
# 2139. This record too failed to break into the top sellers and failed to get
considerable airplay and soon Excello dropped her from the label’s roster.
 |
| Earl Hooker |
In 1959 she began an extended stay as vocalist with Earl Hooker and his
combo. Through Hooker, she met Mel London, owner of Chief Records. She was
signed to record for the local Chief Records label in Chicago. “The Man Won't
Work” b/w “Will My Man Be Home Tonight” on Chief # 7012. Continuing into the
nineteen sixties, Lillian Offitt continued to perform and record with Earl
Hooker. “Oh Mama” b/w “My Man Is A Lover” was issued by Chief on # 7015. In
late 1960 her last effort for Chief was “Troubles” b/w “Shine On” on # 7029.
She appeared at such Chicago clubs as Roberts Show Lounge and the Shangri-La. She left music to start a family, preventing her from joining the 1964 American Folk Blues Festival tour, her place taken by Sugar Pie DeSanto. She was last sighted in 1974 as part of the Streakers Rated-X Revue in St. Joseph, Michigan. Lillian
Offitt then worked outside of the music field for many years in Chicago.
Sources:
Songs:
Miss You So
If You Only Knew
Just Lonesome! That’s All
Darlin’ I'll Forgive You
Can't Go On
Darlin’ Please Don't Change
Will My Man Be Home Tonight
The Man Won't Work
My Man Is A Lover
Oh Mama
Troubles
Shine On
Hello Krobi, Just a belated thank you for your wonderful post which helped me with mine. Regards, Bob.
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