SHORTY LONG
Shorty Long was Motown artist who originated "Devil With the Blue Dress" and died before his 30th birthday.
He was born Frederick Earl Long in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 20, 1940. His nickname came from the fact that he was just five feet one inch in height. As a teenager, he listened to Rhythm & Blues stars like Johnny Ace and Little Willie John. He sang at the Birmingham Baptist Church and became proficient on the piano, organ, drums, guitar, trumpet and harmonica. He also worked as a radio DJ, toured with an Ink Spots group, and played keyboards at a club called the Old Stable before moving to Detroit in 1959.
In the early ‘60s, he recorded for the Tri-Phi/Harvey labels (owned by Berry Gordy’s sister, Gwen, and her husband, Harvey Fuqua). He co-wrote his debut single, “Devil With the Blue Dress On,” with Motown songwriter William “Mickey” Stevenson. It was a minor R&B hit, a much faster version of which by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels went top five on the pop chart in 1966.
Long’s next charted single, “Function at the Junction,” reached #42 on Billboard magazine’s R&B chart, though it was a much bigger hit in certain local and regional markets. For example, “Function” hit #1 on WABQ in Cleveland.
After coming out with an update of the Big Bopper’s 1958 hit, “Chantilly Lace,” followed by “Night Fo’ Last,” Long enjoyed his biggest record. “Here Comes the Judge” was a novelty number based on Pigmeat Markham’s comedy routine. (Markham also charted with his own version.) After two follow-ups that failed to chart—including a cover of Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale”--Shorty Long and his friend, Oscar Williams, drowned when their boat crashed in the Detroit River on June 29, 1969. Long was 29 years old.
Motown released his final album, The Prime of Shorty Long, a few months after his death.
Charted singles:
“Devil With the Blues Dress” (1964) R&B #26, Pop #125
“Function at the Junction” (1966) R&B #42, Pop #97
“Night Fo’ Last” (1968) R&B #42, Pop #75
“Here Comes the Judge” (1968) R&B #4, Pop #8
