Al Runyon

Al Runyon was a blues musician who recorded in Chicago during the 1950s. He's remembered for one particular song, "Baby Please Come Home," which he cut in 1956. The record has a raw, pleading quality that connected with listeners, and it became his signature piece.

He led a band called Al Runyon and His Blue Flames. The group included some notable Chicago session players like bassist Willie Dixon and harmonica player Walter Horton. They played the city's clubs, but Runyon's recorded output was fairly small.

"Baby Please Come Home" endured. It got picked up by other artists over the decades, which kept Runyon's name alive in blues circles. Beyond that one song, details about his life and career are sparse.