James Brown’s favorite singer and the inspiration for generations of musicians, Little Willie John was the unjustly forgotten singer whose deep blues, rollicking rock ‘n’ roll, and swinging ballads formed the basis for what we know as soul music. Written by esteemed music journalist Susan Whitall and with a foreword by Stevie Wonder, the singer receives his due in the first-ever official biography based on his fast life and strange death, FEVER

Born in Arkansas in 1937, William Edward John found his voice in the church halls and nightclubs of Detroit. A notable Rhythm and Blues chart success in his day, his songs are now better known through covers, such as Peggy Lee’s version of Fever, Need Your Love So Bad via Fleetwood Mac and Leave My Kitten Alone via The Beatles.

The soaring heights of Little Willie John’s career are matched only by the tragic events of his death. Charged with a violent crime in the late 1960s, Willie was incarcerated in Walla Walla, Washington, where he died under mysterious circumstances.

Little Willie John lived for a fleeting 30 years, but his dynamic and daring sound left an indelible mark on the history of music. With the help of Little Willie John’s eldest son Kevin and with full access to the John family archive, Susan Whitall has interviewed some of the biggest names in the music industry to produce an unprecedented account of the man who helped invent soul music.

“My mother told me, if you call yourself 'Little' Stevie Wonder, you'd better be as good as Little Willie John." – Stevie Wonder

“Little Willie John is the soul singer’s soul singer.” – Marvin Gaye

Susan Whitall is a Detroit-based music journalist who wrote Women of Motown for Avon in the US.

Kevin John is the son of Little Willie John, and has granted unprecedented access to his family’s personal archives.