Loretta Lynn, Jeannie C. Riley & Connie Francis among the artists who cut her songs.
Fans and friends are mourning the death of Louisiana music icon Maggie Lewis Warwick, who died March 29 in Shreveport, La., from pneumonia.
“I’ve known Maggie Warwick since I was just a kid and I can honestly say she was one of the sweetest people I have ever known,” Grammy-nominated blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd tells Billboard. “Maggie’s excitement and passion for music, and in particular, the music from the Shreveport area was infectious. Maggie was an early believer in me and my talent and was an inspiring teacher. Her remarkable history as a singer, songwriter and performer was formidable and she was always there to encourage me -- even performing a duet with me at one of my first recording sessions. I will always be grateful for her guidance through the years.”
Born in Snyder, Texas, more than 70 years ago, Margaret Ann Lewis launched her first band in high school, Maggie Lewis and the Thunderbolts, which would later include Johnny Winter on lead guitar. Early in her career, the West Texas native sang with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and traveled to Chicago with her sister Rose to work with producer Leonard Chess at Chess Records.