THE MIGHTY HANNIBAL
Hannibalism! (Norton)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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For his first release "Big Chief Hug-Um an' Kiss-Um," the record company thought it was a good idear to dress up Jimmy Shaw in a Native Indian head-dress. That was 1958 and such stunts were the norm. It wasn't long after that the smooth crooning soul singer donned a turban and changed his name to Hannibal. The world should have been his. Hannibal could doo-wop with the best, and his rhythm and blues sides rivaled fellow Atlanta buddy James Brown. But it just wasn't to be. Hannibal did manage quite a profitable little career, sometimes from records, sometimes from pimping, and his career if anything, was always rocking. Palling around with Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Joe Tex and Ray Charles ("he liked to drive, real fast"), Hannibal was living the high life, and from '58 to '67, before a nasty heroin habit caught up with him, he waxed a great string of singles. Hearing such vibrant gems as "Motha Goose Breaks Loose," "Jerkin' The Dog" and "Fishin" Pole," it's a wonder Hannibal ain't headlining an r'n'b revival tour. If Andre Williams and Rudy Rae Moore can do it, how far behind can The Mighty Hannibal be?

© 2002 - John Sekerka