Wes Houston (b. 1947)
Wes Houston was heavily involved in the group of "broadsiders," the name Sis Cunningham gave to writers who submitted their songs to the magazine. He first discovered Broadside when he ventured into Izzy Young's Folklore Center in 1964. Young suggested that he pay a visit to the Friesens' apartment. Houston had his own reel-to-reel tape recorder, which he occasionally brought over to supplement the Friesens' Revere deck. Since most of the musicians coming into Broadside were solo artists, Gordon Friesen suggested that Houston start a group, so he paired up with Elaine White and Mike Millius.
Houston currently lives in Queens Village, New York and plays with the Wes Houston Band. Houston was also an accompanist to Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick in the group "The Heart," which recorded a Folkways album, Square Dance With Soul.
The Best of Broadside: 61. "To Be a Killer"
This song and another, "Elijah Good," appear on Broadside Ballads, Volume 5. He recalls having been influenced by an article in a newspaper to write "To Be a Killer" (personal communication, 2000).
Text extracted from the notes by Jeff Place accompanying The Best of Broadside.
Smithsonian Folkways recordings featuring Wes Houston:
Agnes "Sis" Cunningham: Broadside Ballads, Volume 9: Sundown (FW05319)
Time is Running Out - Broadside Ballads Vol.5 (FW05312)
Broadside Reunion- Broadside Ballads Vol.6 (FW05315)