Listen: Fever

The late Precious Bryant (b.1942-d.2013) didn’t release an album until 2002, despite first being recorded by folklorist George Mitchell almost four decades earlier.

Precious, who sadly passed away on January 12, 2013, was a long-time friend of Music Maker. Her 2005 album with us, titled My Name is Precious, contains 26 songs showcasing her Piedmont Blues style and impressive talent. Listening to the album, I was struck by how full of energy Precious sounded—despite struggling with diabetes and illness.

One song that stands out to me among her host of originals and covers (which includes The Impressions’ “It’s Alright” and Dale Hawkins’ “Susie Q”) is her rendition of “Fever.” Although originally sung by Little Willie John in 1956, Peggy Lee’s version of the hit two years later is perhaps most famous. Precious provides a refreshing acoustic take on the popular song, stripping the sultry track down to just her voice accompanied by acoustic guitar and making it even more intimate in the process. Check out the song and see why Precious will be remembered as a beloved blueswoman.