LOTSA POPPA
400 Pounds of Soul!

Tellin' stories at Blind Willie's Atlanta, GA

Consistently voted "Best Blues Singer" by readers of Atlanta Magazine Lotsa Poppa receives commendation from Georgia General Assembly: A Resolution Check out Bryan Powell's story in Creative Loafing about Poppa: Poppa Don't Preach

Willie Hill with Lotsa Poppa at Darwin's, Marietta, GA Slideshow Photos of Lotsa Poppa from 1996 thru 2001

NEWS 7/14/09: Poppa is still in a nursing home in Atlanta. He pretty much has to stay in bed all the time, but he's doing OK. He would love to hear from you; drop in to visit and he'll even sing you a song! Send Poppa a card, letter, or drop in to visit: Julius High (Lotsa Poppa) c/o Imperial Health Center 2645 Whiting Street NW Atlanta GA 30318 (Whiting Street is off Hightower Rd. near Bankhead Hwy.)   Lotsa Poppa still has CDs availble! "Live at Blind Willie's" and "Whip It On Me, Poppa" To send email to Lotsa Poppa or to order a CD, Contact Poppa's brother George   Poppa, June 2009 Poppa and Christy, Jan 23, 2007 Click here for website inquiries

Lotsa Poppa: Info August 2, 1935: Born Julius High Jr. to Anna and Reverand Julius High Sr. in Atlanta GA (Baptized by Martin Luther King, Jr.)   1940 - 1960: Sang in Ebeneezer Baptist Church Choir   September 4, 1962: First paid performance as "Little Julius" at Knotty Pine Supper Club in Forest Park GA as a member of "The Royals"   November, 1964: Recorded :That's Where It's At" and "The Bachelor" on Specialty Records   1965 - 1970: Was primary opening act for all major shows at the famous Royal Peacock Lounge on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta GA. Also toured with the Ink Spots, James Brown, and Jimmy Reed.   March, 1965: recorded "A Tribute To Sam Cooke" which made the BMI charts.   February 18, 1966: Married Juanita Justice, singer with Bobby Blue Bland, then with the Atlanta Mass Choir.   Summer, 1966: Nicknamed "Lotsa Poppa" by Sam Cooke and Dinah Washington while on tour in Chicago.   Spring, 1975: Played 30 one-nighters with Sam Cooke, Dee Clark, Wilson Pickett, Dion Warwick, The Drifters, and Solomon Burke at venues such as the Uptown Theatre in Ph8iladelphia PA, the Apollo Theatre in New York City, ans the Howard Theatre in Washington DC.   Spring, 1978: Moved to Boston MA and worked the university circuit and nightclubs throughout New England and Canada   Summer, 1988: Moved back to Atlanta to be close to his ageing parents   Spring, 1989: Began weekly stint at Blind Willie's. After sitting in and singing one song on a Wednesday night jam, the bookkeeper called the owner and said, "We need to hire him." Poppa performed there regularly until his retirement.   Spring, 1996: Teamed up with the Atlanta Heat Blues Revue as his backup band   Summer, 1996: Performed at the Centennial Olympics Equestrian Park for the duration of the games   October, 1998: Released album "I'm All You'll Ever Need" on private label   September 4, 2000: Held his 38-year Anniversary Performance at the Auburn Avenue Elks Club.   2002: After a career spanning 40 years, Lotsa Poppa retires from performing

Other Links: George High (Poppa's brother) JTBlues The Black Sheep Blues Band The Atlanta Blues Society The AtlantaHeatBlues Revue

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