Alfred Elkins was a longtime blues bassist, active in recording at least from the early 1930's through the end of the 1950's. He spent much of his career in Chicago, and played and recorded with Memphis Slim, Howlin' Wolf, the first Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Minnie, Big Maceo, and Tampa Red, amongst others. Like many of the more talented blues musicians in the city during the 30's and 40's, he got a lot of work through the production activities of Lester Melrose, and moved on to playing sessions at Chess Records once that latter label came into existence. His most widely heard work today consists of the Howlin' Wolf recordings that he participated on the second half of the 1950's, including the classic 1957 studio version of "Sittin' On Top of the World". For a time in the late 1950's, Elkins seemed to be the ready alternative to Willie Dixon, at least as a bassist, playing on the Wolf sessions on which Dixon didn't participate. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
