Metchosin's link provides a mini-biography with the following quote:

"Signed in 1955 to King Records, Little Willie John delivered immediate sales with his original of the to-be cabaret standard 'Fever'."

Which seems to indicate that, yes Uncle DaveO, we are talking about the same "Fever." (Doubly impressive that it was Willie's *first* King recording!)

I hear so many references to this guy that I had assumed he was not. He does represent an early R&B "sound" that is/was very much at home in NO, and he must have performed here often, probably at the late lamented Dew Drop Inn.