 In 1946 he made his first recording, "Jo Jo Blues", with bandleader Freddie Williams for the Melody Lane record label, soon to be renamed Hy-Tone.He also recorded for Hy-Tone with guitarist Floyd Smith, including the marijuana-related song "When I'm In My Tea"; and recorded for the Aladdin label in Los Angeles with Maxwell Davis' band.After returning to Chicago, he recorded under Tom Archia's supervision for the Aristocrat label run by Leonard Chess.