In Memory of Lowell George of Little Feat

2 years ago by Jeff Woods | June 29, 2010 11:19 am

Gone 31 years ago today, Lowell Thomas George, the man with the small feet and the big band, known as Little Feat.

The first time I heard his music, I was hooked.  It just sounds like the south, when in fact Lowell George actually hailed from Hollywood, the son of Willard H. George, a furrier who raised chinchillas and supplied furs to the movie studios.

Young Lowell’s first instrument was the harmonica.  He then took up the flute in the school marching band.  By the age of 11, he started playing guitar and went on to learn the saxophone and sitar. 

Lowell George’s first band, The Factory, formed in 1965 featured future Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward.   Frank Zappa produced two tracks for The Factory.  Following their disbanding, George briefly joined the band The Standells (‘Dirty Water’), and spent a few months in late 1968 to early 1969 as a member of Zappa’s band, the Mothers of Invention (Lowell can be heard on the album Weasels Ripped My Flesh, as well as several tracks on the first disc of Zappa’s You Can’t Do that On Stage Anymore Vol. 5, including a version of "Here Lies Love", with Lowell as lead vocalist.

After leaving the Mothers of Invention, as legend has it, upon Zappa’s insistence that George was too good a songwriter not to have his own band, Lowell invited fellow musicians to form a new band – Little Feat.  (note:  George’s explanation of leaving Zappa was that he got fired for writing a dope-song … I’ll include that song below). 

In the 1970′s, the Feat released a series of studio albums including Little Feat, Sailin’ Shoes, Dixie Chicken, Feats Don’t Fail Me Now, The Last Record Alubm, and Time Loves a Hero.  They alos put out and asoundingly great double live record called ‘Waiting for Columbus’.

George was also a producer on the Grateful Dead’s 1978 album Shakedown Street.

On June 15, 1979, George began a tour in support of his solo album.  He then fell ill in his Arlington Virginia hotel room, and died on June 29, 1979. An autopsy showed that he died of an accidental drug overdose.   Lowell George’s body was cremated and his ashes were flown back to L.A., where they were scattered in the Pacific from his fishing boat.

Here’s a couple Feat beauties featuring Lowell George.

Enjoy,

Cheers,

Jeff.

 

 

Send to a friend Filed Under: Legends of Classic Rock
add a comment 6 Comments
  • Aly
    June 30, 2010 at 7:18 am

    Thanks Jeff. This is simply classic stuff. I remember hearing Fat Man in the Bathtub for the first time and just loved it. Gonna put on Waiting For Columbus for my one hour drive to work this morning.

    (Reply)
  • Jim J
    July 1, 2010 at 9:26 am

    Hey, I used to listen to the album “Feats Don’t Fail me Now”. Every song on that album is a gem with a couple of super-gems here and there.

    This kinda shows how stiff the competition was in the 1970′s. Such a great talent, and still, just average in comparison to everyone that was out there.

    I never knew until now that he’d died. That’s sad, really.

    (Reply)
  • Ken-L
    July 1, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    Listening to their music, takes me to a special place, so original. I’ve never heard the word average used to describe Lowell, One of the great slide players of rock!

    (Reply)
  • Brian
    July 2, 2010 at 7:57 am

    RIP Lowel – a truly great band.

    (Reply)
  • Doug
    July 5, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    I was never fortunate enough to see Lowell George perform live but I have been able to attend all of the Little Feat concerts in the greater Toronto area over the past 15 years. The band and his songs are lasting tribute to a great musician.

    (Reply)
  • ypexscmjp
    July 14, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    QL08SM nqwyjrghsxnt, [url=http://lfdrlethzwse.com/]lfdrlethzwse[/url], [link=http://cmloxwmjuntz.com/]cmloxwmjuntz[/link], http://xdaclljtkjav.com/

    (Reply)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Disclaimer: Comments submitted to this sites posts are moderated and will be posted to the website once they are deemed to be suitable.