Arzell J. "Z.Z." Hill (September 30, 1935 – April 27, 1984) was an American blues singer most famous for his music in the 1970s and early 1980s. His 1982 album, Down Home, released by Malaco Records, remained on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years. The song "Down Home Blues" from this album is often regarded as the most well-known blues song of the 1980s. The Texas State Historical Association noted that Hill created a mix of blues and modern soul styles, helping to bring blues back into the awareness of modern Black people.

Career

Z. Z. Hill started his singing career in the late 1950s as part of a gospel group called the Spiritual Five, performing in Texas. He was inspired by musicians such as Sam Cooke, B. B. King, and Bobby "Blue" Bland. He performed his own songs and others in clubs near Dallas, including leading bands led by Bo Thomas and Frank Shelton. He chose his stage name to honor B. B. King.

Encouraged by Otis Redding, who had seen him perform, Hill joined his older brother Matt Hill, who was becoming a record producer, in Los Angeles in 1963. Hill released his first single, "You Were Wrong," on his family's M.H. label. The song reached number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964 and was soon signed by Kent Records. Most of the songs he recorded for Kent were written or co-written by Hill and arranged by saxophonist Maxwell Davis. None of these songs charted at the time, but many, such as "I Need Someone (To Love Me)," are now highly respected by soul music fans.

After leaving Kent in 1968, Hill briefly recorded for Phil Walden's Capricorn label in Macon, Georgia. However, after a disagreement with Walden, his contract was purchased by Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams's Mankind label. Hill completed his work for Mankind and returned to California to record for his brother's label, Hill. The song "Don't Make Me Pay for His Mistakes," produced by Matt Hill and Miles Grayson, became his biggest pop hit, reaching number 62 on the Hot 100. Kent later reissued his 1964 recording of "I Need Someone," which also charted. Williams also recorded Hill in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1971, leading to R&B hits like "Chokin' Kind" and "It Ain't No Use," as well as the album The Brand New Z. Z. Hill.

With his brother's help, Hill signed with United Artists, where he worked with experienced R&B musicians like Lamont Dozier and Allen Toussaint. He released several singles that charted on the R&B charts in the mid-1970s. After his brother Matt died suddenly from a heart attack, Hill left United Artists and signed with Columbia Records. He recorded two albums with arranger-producer Bert de Coteaux in New York. Singles from these albums, including "Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It," charted on the Billboard R&B chart for 18 weeks in 1977.

In 1979, Hill left Columbia and returned to the South, signing with Malaco Records. According to Allmusic writer Bill Dahl, this move helped revive both Hill's career and the blues genre. His first hit for Malaco was his recording of "Cheating in the Next Room," written by George Jackson, which was released in 1982 and reached the R&B top 20, staying on the chart for 20 weeks. Hill had several successful albums for Malaco, with Down Home being the most popular. The album remained on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years. The song "Down Home Blues," also written by Jackson, was later recorded by Malaco artist Denise LaSalle. Hill's 1982 album The Rhythm & the Blues received critical praise and contributed to a growing interest in blues music, much of which was recorded by Malaco in Jackson, Mississippi.

Personal life and death

In February 1984, while on a tour, Hill was in a car accident. He performed for the last time two months later on April 23 at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, Texas. On April 27, he died from a heart attack caused by a blood clot in his leg that formed after the accident. A producer from Malaco Records, Gerald "Wolf" Stephenson, said that a friend found Hill lying in the driveway of his home in Dallas. Hill was declared dead at Charlton Methodist Hospital after attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Legacy

Hill's song "That Ain't the Way You Make Love" was sampled by Madvillain in their track "Fancy Clown."

Hill is the subject of Angela Jackson's poem "One Night ZZ Hill Sang at the Club Tupelo."

The band ZZ Top is named in his honor.

Discography

• The Soul Stirring Z.Z. Hill (Kent, 1965)
• A Whole Lot of Soul (Kent, 1967)
• The Brand New Z.Z. Hill (Mankind, 1971)
• The Bluest Blues (Excello [France], 1971) – a re-release of the Mankind album
• Z.Z. Hill's Greatest Hits: Dues Paid in Full (Kent, 1972)
• The Best Thing That's Happened to Me (United Artists, 1973)
• Z.Z. (United Artists, 1974)
• Keep on Loving You (United Artists, 1975)
• Let's Make a Deal (Columbia, 1977)
• The Mark of Z.Z. Hill (Columbia, 1979)
• Z.Z. Hill (Malaco, 1981)
• Down Home (Malaco, 1982)
• The Rhythm & the Blues (Malaco, 1982)
• Velvet Soul (Malibu, 1982)
• I'm a Blues Man (Malaco, 1983)
• Bluesmaster (Malaco, 1984)
• Thrill on the Z.Z. Hill (Rare Bullet, 1984) – a re-release of the Malibu album
• When a Man Loves a Woman (Kent, 1984)
• In Memoriam 1935-1984 (Malaco, 1985)
• Greatest Hits (Malaco, 1986)