‘Stagger Lee Threw 7, Billy Swore he Threw 8!’

Written By Mike Greenblatt

The song “Stagger Lee” has been recorded by Fats Domino, Ike & Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Huey Lewis & The News, Neil Sedaka, Nick Cave, The Black Keys and dozens of others. Keb Mo sang it in the movie Honeydripper. Lloyd Price took it to #1 in 1958.

Based on the true story of a St. Louis pimp named Lee Shelton who murdered a mobster named Billy Lyons on Christmas night 1895 (“the bullet went through Billy and broke the bartender’s glass”), the song is also known by several different titles including “Stagolee” and “Stack-O-Lee.” Apparently, the two men were gambling, drinking and got into an argument. Then Billy done stole Lee’s Stetson hat. Lee shot Billy (“he shot that poor boy so bad”), recovered his hat, but was arrested for murder, convicted in 1897, imprisoned, paroled in 1909, but returned to prison in 1911 for an assault during a robbery. He died in prison in 1912.

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The very first recording of the song—by Waring’s Pennsylvanians—was on April 18, 1923 in Camden, New Jersey. Released by the Victor label (which became RCA), it was called “Stack O’Lee Blues.” Ray Lopez was credited as the song’s author.

Here’s Dr. John performing it in 1986 at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.    

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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