Jimmy Witherspoon
One of the great blues singers of the post-World War II period, Jimmy Witherspoon was also versatile enough to fit comfortably into the jazz world. Witherspoon was born on August 8, 1920 in Gurdon, Arizona. As a child, he sang in a church choir, and he made his debut recordings with Jay McShann for Philo and Mercury in 1945 and 1946. His own first recordings, using McShann's band, resulted in a number one R&B hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business, Pts. 1 & 2" on Supreme Records. Live performances of "No Rollin' Blues" and "Big Fine Girl" provided 'Spoon with two more hits in 1950.
The mid-'50s were a lean time, with his style of shouting blues temporarily out of fashion; singles were tried for Federal, Chess, Atco, Vee Jay, and others, with little success. Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival (HiFi Jazz) from 1959 lifted him back into the limelight. Partnerships with Ben Webster or Groove Holmes were recorded, and he toured Europe in 1961 with Buck Clayton, performing overseas many more times in the decades to follow. Witherspoon's best 1960s recording is generally considered to be Evening Blues (Prestige), which features T-Bone Walker on guitar and Clifford Scott on saxophone.
As the '70s began, Witherspoon decided to take a short break from live performances, settled in Los Angeles, took a job as a disc jockey, and continued making records. In 1971, Witherspoon teamed up with former Animals vocalist Eric Burdon for the album Guilty. By 1973, Witherspoon was ready to get back on the road and assembled a band featuring a young Robben Ford on lead guitar. Those live shows had received positive reviews, rejuvenating Witherspoon's move toward a definite rock/soul sound. He traveled to London in 1974 to record Love Is a Five Letter Word with British blues producer Mike Vernon, who had produced critically acclaimed British blues albums by John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, and Ten Years After. By the early '80s, Witherspoon was diagnosed with throat cancer. Although he remained active and was a popular concert attraction, the effect of the disease on his vocals was obvious. Witherspoon passed away on September 18, 1997 at the age of 77.
© Bob Porter, Scott Yanow & Al Campbell /TiVo
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Jimmy Witherspoon: The Concerts
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 28 Sep 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Very Best of Jump Blues Musicians Jimmy Witherspoon & Lionel Hampton
Jimmy Witherspoon, Lionel Hampton
Blues - Released by Platinum Collection on 14 Feb 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon (Have I Got Blues Got You)
Blues - Released by Imperial Presents on 6 Dec 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spoon's Blues
Blues - Released by Stony Plain Records on 20 Jun 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon at the Renaissance (Live)
Jimmy Witherspoon, Jerry Mulligan, Ben Webster
Jazz - Released by HIFI Records on 6 Jul 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
American Blues
Jimmy Witherspoon, Howard Scott
Blues - Released by Avenue records on 1 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
As Blue as They Can Be
Jimmy Witherspoon, Richard Groove Holmes
Jazz - Released by Good Time Records on 28 Feb 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Blusey Gents
Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Turner, Amos Milburn
Blues - Released by Music Manager on 28 Jul 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Singin' The Blues (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Efor, S.L on 25 Sep 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roots Plus Jimmy Whitherspoon Plus 3 Bonus Tracks
R&B - Released by Shake It Up! Records on 4 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Four Classic Albums Plus (Goin' to Kansas City Blues / Witherspoon Mulligan Webster at the Renaissance / Jimmy Witherspoon at Monterey / In Person (Olympia Concert) [Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 2 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At the Monterey Jazz Festival (Live)
Jazz - Released by HIFI Records on 6 Jul 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best Of
Blues - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Feb 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Renaissance & At Monterey (Bonus Track Version)
Blues - Released by Dark Was the Night Records on 8 Apr 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues (Album Version)
Blues - Released by Original Blues Classics on 15 Jul 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The King of Blues (Remastered)
Blues - Released by Master Tape Records on 9 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo