He was born in
Philadelphia, but grew up on the
South Side of Chicago where he learned guitar while at
DuSable High School. After serving with the military, he started a professional career as a musician in 1946, initially with the Three Earls in
Cleveland, Ohio, before launching a solo career. After returning to Chicago he made his first recording in 1950, as guest vocalist on saxophonist
Eddie Chamblee's "Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep". He signed as a solo artist to
Premium Records, and released his first single, "Contrary Mary", in early 1951. He became a popular club performer, noted for his guitar skills while performing
splits, playing behind his back, and with his teeth, many such moves emulating
T-Bone Walker (and later adopted by
Jimi Hendrix). In 1952, he was spotted by radio DJ
Al Benson, who arranged for him to be signed by
Chess Records. His first and most successful record for the company, "Train, Train, Train", his own composition, was issued on the
Checker subsidiary label in early 1953 and reached number 7 on the
Billboard R&B chart. The song was
covered by
Buddy Morrow, whose version on
RCA Victor reached number 28 on the
pop chart. Overbea became a favorite of leading DJ
Alan Freed and appeared on some of Freed's shows as well as maintaining a performing schedule in Chicago clubs. His later records for Checker were less successful, and he interspersed his rockier recordings with ballads in the style of
Billy Eckstine, such as "Sorrento", which he sang in Italian, "You're Mine" (also recorded by
The Flamingos), and "A Toast to Lovers". He continued to tour, with
Dinah Washington and others, and performed on Alan Freed's shows including the week-long
Easter Jubilee of Stars in
Brooklyn in April 1955. After several singles on Checker, Overbea moved in 1956 to the
Argo label, another Chess subsidiary specifically established to market pop music. However, his Argo recordings were not commercially successful, and he left in 1957. He then recorded for
Federal Records in
Cincinnati, until 1959, but again with little success. His last known recordings were for the Apex label in Chicago. Overbea continued to perform occasionally in Chicago clubs until the 1970s. He died in Chicago in 1994, aged 68. ==References==