Joe Liggins, 72, Dies; Leader of Honeydrippers

Joe Liggins, leader of The Honeydrippers rhythm-and-blues band that was popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s, died late Friday at St. Francis Hospital in Lynwood. The 72-year-old piano player, singer and songwriter had been in a coma since last Sunday.

Liggins’ band, which he disbanded in 1954 and reorganized 12 years ago, is still active and played at a Dixieland festival on Santa Catalina Island last Saturday, two days after Liggins suffered a stroke.

His composition “The Honeydripper,” sold nearly 12 million records, said his tenor saxophonist, Shellie Thomas. Another Liggins hit was “Pink Champagne” in the 1950s.

Born in Guthrie, Okla., Liggins moved to San Diego, where he played trumpet in high school. He moved to Los Angeles, worked in a defense plant during World War II, then organized a combo in which he played piano and sang.

Compton Resident

He had been a Compton resident for 40 years.

The band had performed at numerous jazz, Dixieland and rhythm-and-blues festivals in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Chicago and elsewhere.

Thomas, musical director of the band, said it will continue to play its scheduled dates. “I’m glad my life’s touched his,” Thomas said. “It’s been very heavy and we’ll all miss him.”

Liggins leaves his wife, Mildred; a son, Joe Jr., and a sister, Eleanor.

Services are pending with the Angelus Funeral Home.