Elem, Robert Big Mojo

Elem, Robert Big Mojo 22 January 1928; Itta Bena, MS – 5 February 1997; Chicago, IL Bassist/guitarist/vocalist. Elem learned guitar as a boy from Robert Nighthawk and Ike Turner. After moving to Chicago, he landed gigs with local artists such as harpist Mad Dog Lester Davenport and guitarist Arthur “Big Boy” Spires. He switched to electric bass (still a novelty) in the mid-1950s, and formed Earlee Payton’s Blues Cats with harpist Earlee Payton. They recruited guitarist Freddie King to handle…