Z.Z. HILL
He was born Arzell J. Hill in Naples, Texas, on September 30, 1935. He began his musical career in the late 1950s with a gospel group called the Spiritual Five. Eventually, Hill began to write and sing in the blues style, performing in Dallas-area nightclubs. He called himself “Z.Z.” as a tip of the hat to B.B. King.
Encouraged by Otis Redding, who had seen his show, Hill joined his older brother Matt, an aspiring record producer, in Los Angeles in 1963. His first single, “You Were Wrong,” came out on the family’s M.H. label. It went to #20 on the Rhythm & Blues chart and brought Hill to the attention of Kent Records in L.A. Though none of his Kent recordings achieved great commercial success, fans of soul music now hold them in high regard.
Hill left Kent in 1968 and briefly recorded for Phil Walden’s Capricorn Records in Macon, Georgia. Walden sold Hill’s contract to Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams, owner of the Mankind label. A 1971 release, “Don’t Make Me Pay for His Mistakes,” became Hill’s first hit on the Soul chart in seven years. The singer would later return to California and again record for his brother’s label.
Meanwhile, Kent reissued Hill’s 1964 single, “I Need Someone (To Love Me).” Seven years after the fact, it went to #30 on the Billboard Soul chart. Also in 1971, Hill recorded at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. These sessions resulted in hit singles like “Chokin’ Kind” and “It Ain’t No Use,” and an album, The Brand New Z.Z. Hill.
His brother Matt got Hill signed to United Artists, where his music was frequently written and arranged by Lamont Dozier and Allen Toussaint. After Matt Hill died of a heart attack, Z.Z. left United Artists for Columbia Records, for whom he recorded two albums. His time at Columbia further produced Hill’s all-time biggest single, “Love Is So Good When You’re Stealing It.”
In 1979, Hill signed with the Malaco label in Jackson, Mississippi. His first hit for them, “Cheating in the Next Room,” was written by Memphis soul veteran George Jackson. Hill recorded a number of best-selling albums for Malaco, including Down Home, which spent nearly two years on the Billboard charts.
While touring in February 1984, Hill was in a car accident. He continued to perform, but died on April 27th of a heart attack due to a blood clot that formed after the crash. Z.Z. Hill was 48 years old.
Charted singles:
“You Were Wrong” (1964) R&B #20, Pop #100
“Hey Little Girl” (1964) Pop #134
“You Got What I Need” (1968) Pop #129
“Don’t Make Me Pay for His Mistakes” (1971) R&B #17, Pop #62
“I Need Someone (To Love Me)” (1971) R&B #30, Pop #86
“Chokin’ Kind” (1971) R&B #30, Pop #108
“Second Chance” (1972) R&B #39
“It Ain’t No Use” (1972) R&B #34
“Ain’t Nothing You Can Do” (1973) R&B #37, Pop #114
“I Don’t Need Half a Love” (1973) R&B #63
“Let Them Talk” (1974) R&B #74
“Am I Groovin’ You” (1974) R&B #84
“I Keep On Lovin’ You” (1974) R&B #39, Pop #104
“I Created a Monster” (1975) R&B #40, Pop #109
“Love Is So Good When You’re Stealing It” (1977) R&B #15, Pop #102
“This Time They Told the Truth” (1978) R&B #42
“Cheating in the Next Room” (1982) R&B #19
“Get a Little, Give a Little” (1984) R&B #85
