His parents, Henry and Ollie Mae Hill, ran cafés in Clarksdale as well as a juke joint north of Lyon that featured Delta blues musicians such as Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Nighthawk.

The single reached number-one on the Billboard R&B chart, and has often been called "the first rock and roll record.

He also worked as a session musician at Sun Records and other local labels, backing Howlin' Wolf and Little Junior Parker among others.

[3][5] Between 1952 and 1955, Hill played on records with Clayton Love (Aladdin, 1952), Little Junior Parker (Modern, 1952/Sun, 1953), Billy "The Kid" Emerson (Sun, 1054), and Jesse Knight (Checker, 1954).

While in Chicago, he also accompanied Dennis "Long Man" Binder (United, 1955), before rejoining Turner's Kings of Rhythm.

[7] The Kings of Rhythm played all around the Greater St. Louis area and became a popular nightclub attraction.

[5][6] Before the birth of his son, Hill broke his ankle during a wrestling match with vocalist Carlson Oliver and left the band, returning to Clarksdale.