The Malaco Music Group

Little Milton is an enormously talented musician with a voice that belies the years of hard work, road weariness, and the demands of his profession. He is a survivor, a versatile and timeless artist who has refined his traditional craft into an elegant and rich musical style while he has redefined the roll of grassroots artists.


Born in Inverness, Mississippi, (located in the Mississippi Delta) Milton was destined to become a star in his own right. He would work in the cotton field as a child until he saved up enough money to purchase a guitar. He ordered it from the Marshall Field catalog for a cost of $14.40. When it finally came in, he hurried down to pick it up and bring it home so he could start practicing. But when he returned home to show his mama, she told him the best thing he could do was to take it back. Luckily, before he had a chance to return it, his daddy (Big Milton) came home and had a talk with his wife and then came out and told Milton that it was O.K. to keep it. Milton said one day, not too long ago, he asked his mama, "Mama, suppose I had taken that guitar back?" She said, "Boy, I'm glad you didn't."


With a string of hits to his credit, Little Milton has earned the right to sing the Blues. In 1953, Milton received his big break. Ike Turner took him to Sun Records to record. "Sam Phillips did the engineering while Ike did the producing," he recalls. Milton's skyrocketing success and unique talent led him to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. While there he produced "If Walls Could Talk", "Blind Man", "We're Gonna Make It", and the unforgettable, "Grits Ain't Groceries". Milton then moved to Stax Records to make the hits "Walking The Back Streets and Cryin'" and "Little Bluebird". During the following years, Little Milton moved on to TK and MCA Records.


In 1984, Little Milton united with Malaco Records and continued his exceptional delivery of vocal and guitar style his fans have always loved. Milton attributes most of his success to his faithful friend "Bessie" (his guitar). Why is "Bessie" such a good friend? Milton says, "She never says no, she never gets sick, she makes me money, and she's always ready when I call on her." Milton is one of the best in the business. It is apparent on any of his albums that he has paid his dues in the blues business, but one thing stands true with Little Milton, he's still having fun playing his music and doin' his own thing.