[2]​ Cuando tenía 4 años, su familia se mudó a Detroit, Míchigan, donde su padre encontró trabajo en una fábrica.

Tras verlo actuar junto a la orquesta de Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams, Glover le ofreció un contrato discogáfico con King Records en 1955.

[5]​ John también grabó "I'm Shakin'", del compositor Rudy Toombs,[6]​ "Suffering with the Blues" y "Sleep" alcanzaron el éxito en 1960.

La versión de "Need Your Love So Bad" grabada por Fleetwood Mac fue además un éxito en Europa.

Otra de sus canciones para cubrir fue " Leave My Kitten Alone " (1959), en 1964 y destinado a su álbum Beatles for Sale.

estuvo allí para coronar a la ganadora del concurso de belleza Miss Cavalcade of Jazz.

[4] John apeló la condena y fue puesto en libertad condicional mientras se reconsideraba el caso, durante el cual grabó lo que pretendía ser su álbum de regreso.

[11] John fue incluido póstumamente al Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll en 1996, presentado por Stevie Wonder.

Titan Books publicó en 2011 una biografía, Fever: Little Willie John, a Fast Life, Mysterious Death and the Birth of Soul, de Susan Whitall con Kevin John (otro de sus hijos) [23].

N.º b/w "Don't Leave Me Dear" (from Mister Little Willie John) b/w "I'm Stickin' with You Baby" (from Fever) b/w "My Nerves" b/w "A Little Bit of Loving" b/w "You Got to Get Up Early in the Morning" (from Mister Little Willie John) b/w "Look What You've Done to Me" (from Mister Little Willie John) b/w "If I Thought You Needed Me" (from Talk to Me) b/w "Uh Uh Baby (No No Baby)" (from Talk to Me) b/w "Until You Do" b/w "Spasms" (from Mister Little Willie John) b/w "Let's Rock While the Rockin's Good" b/w "Don't Be Ashamed to Call My Name" b/w "All My Love Belongs to You" b/w "I'll Carry Your Love Wherever I Go" (from Talk to Me) b/w "No More in Life" (from Talk to Me) b/w "Let Nobody Love You" b/w "Right There" b/w "My Love Is" b/w "I'm Shakin'" b/w "Do You Love Me" (from In Action) b/w "There's a Difference" b/w "You Hurt Me" b/w "I'll Never Go Back on My Word" A-side chart reentry b/w "I'm Sorry" b/w "Drive Me Home" (from Talk to Me) b/w "Autumn Leaves" (from The Sweet, the Hot, the Teen-Age Beat) b/w "Bo-Da-Ley Didd-Ley" (non-album track) b/w "Katanga" (non-album track) b/w "Mister Glenn" b/w "I Wish I Could Cry" (from Little Willie John at a Recording Session) b/w "Come Back to Me" b/w "Doll Face" b/w "Half a Love" b/w "Don't Play with Love" b/w "Come On Sugar" (non-album track) b/w "Talk to Me" (from Talk to Me) b/w "Inside Information" (non-album track) b/w "I'm Shakin'" (from Sure Things) b/w "Bill Bailey" (from Little Willie John at a Recording Session) b/w "Rock Love" (from The Sweet, the Hot, the Teen-Age Beat) b/w "All My Love Belongs to You" (from Mister Little Willie John) b/w "Don't You Know I'm in Love" (non-album track) b/w "Take My Love (I Want to Give It All to You)" (from The Sweet, the Hot, the Teen-Age Beat) b/w "Let Them Talk" (from In Action) b/w "Need Your Love So Bad"