Elgin Evans


Elga Speed Edmonds, known as Elgin Evans, was an American drummer. He was the first permanent drummer in blues musician Muddy Waters' band, and played with other leading blues musicians in the 1940s and 1950s.
He was born in Urbana, Illinois, and played washboard in local blues bands before moving in the 1930s to Chicago, where he performed in clubs. Muddy Waters used various drummers including Baby Face Leroy in his bands, but in 1950 established a permanent band with Evans as drummer. However, for Muddy Waters' first recordings for Chess Records, Leonard Chess replaced Evans with other drummers. Evans made his first recordings with Jimmy Rogers, and from 1953 appeared on some of Muddy Waters' recordings. Evans was later a member of Little Walter's band.
He did not record after the late 1950s, and died in 1966 aged 57.