Moltimore “Moe” Minor III
~ Has Ceased From His Earthly Labors ~
Revelry~ August 3, 1954
Taps~ August 18, 2013
The Name of The Lord is a Strong Tower, the
Righteous run into and are safe.
Moltimore “Moe” Minor unexpectedly crossed the River Jordan, early on Sunday Morning the 18th of Aug. at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, ironically located on the street bearing his surname Minor. The White Dove descended and Moe has Knocked on Heavens’ Door one last time, entering into eternal rest and taking his place with the Heavenly Choir.Destined to beat the odds, he was born prematurely, weighing just over two pounds, in Chicago, Illinois. Maternal Grandmother Hattie Walker challenged the Pediatricians care and took him from the hospital to the family farm on the outskirts of Memphis, TN. There he was nurtured and ultimately grew to a stature of over 200 lbs. on a 6’3″ frame. A man described by others as “bigger than life itself” defied the odds and became an expert at overcoming all obstacles this life threw in his path. Through it all he maintained an upright character, thriving on potential criticism. One favorite quote regarding the Music Business was “if I don’t know how it is broken, how can I be expected to fix it?”. Words spoken like a Master Mechanic, a position he had since retired from.
Traveling across the country, opportunities abound. Reunited with his guitarist “Slidin’ Clyde Roulette” of Canada, they and fellow bandmates stormed the stage of “The First Annual Robert Johnson Tribute Festival”, in Greenwood, MS. last September. As they put it “this is history in the making”. During the music off-season, Moe had served as an intern at Morgan Freeman’s Radio Station, WABG, Greenwood. There he borrowed, with permission, his dad’s Chicago DJ handle “The Blues Operator” and dubbed his co-host Barbara “BB Jo’ Mama”. They had an impromptu style of their own, crafted daily on the spot, delivered with a “George Burns and Gracie Allen” sense of humor.
No matter how rough the trail, he saw the bright side. Moe was an artist who truly could boast that he has Lived the Blues, yet brought that genre to a new level. A vocalist, born with the mysterious gift of “Perfect Pitch” his first solo was performed at Rev. Clay Evans Fellowship Church at age three. In his early teens he performed the highlight of his career at Chicago’s “Gospel Jubilee” with Patti LaBelle in attendance. Reflecting on the many greats with whom he has had opportunity to “sit in” with, fans would often ask why he is not “famous like BB King”. His response, “I would never want to say that another artist got me to the top. If I can’t make it on my own, at least it can’t be said I never tried”. Now the man with the Golden Voice will not grace the earthly stage again, but leaves us a legacy of his recordings. The torch will be carried on, to publish his original masterpiece entitled “Tell Me Why”, recorded in the Grammy Award winning studios of Touchtone Productions, with Engineer James Gardiner, Jack London Square, Oakland, Left behind are his father, Moltimore Jr. of Chicago, sister LaReta Renee Richards of Chicago and Ronald Minor of Tacoma, Wa. Daughter Mya Patrice of Gary, Indiana, three beautiful granddaughters and son Charles Shine, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, fans and Music business associates. Left to carry on the “mission” is his long time partner Barbara. Predeceasing him are his mother Marguerite, maternal grandparents R.T. and Hattie Walker and paternal grandparents Moltimore and Ursula Minor.
Moltimore Minor honorably served his country during the Vietnam Nam conflict, enlisting as an early entrant in the United States Army.Graveside Services were conducted in his honor at Tahoma National Cemetery, in the Kent Valley, Tues. the 3rd of September at 2:00 pm. A Tribute in song, word and video recap, immediately followed at Christian Bikers Tabernacle and Outreach in Parkland, Wa. Officiated by friend and Pastor Ed Wren.
At his request in lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being established c/o www.thebigmoesho.com