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: Goin' to Kansas City Blues with Jay McShann and his Band
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 12 Jul 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Call My Baby
Blues - Released by Night Train International on 12 Feb 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
With The Junior Mance Trio
Blues - Released by Stony Plain Records on 8 Apr 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bam-A-Lam
Mickey Champion, The Robins, The Nic Nacs, Roy Milton, Jimmy Witherspoon
Blues - Released by Kenzo Records on 6 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1947-1948
Blues - Released by Classics Blues & Rhythm Series on 4 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Person (Olympia Concert) [Remastered]
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 9 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Spotlight - Jimmy Witherspoon
Jazz - Released by GTUK on 14 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Time's Gettin' Tougher Than Tough
Gerry Mulligan, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gerry Mulligan & Jimmy Witherspoon
Jazz - Released by Jazz Room on 1 Jul 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Milestones: Jimmy Witherspoon, Vol. 3
Jazz - Released by 21-Music on 10 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Goin' To Chicago
Blues - Released by Collecting Records OMP on 1 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Late Night Jazz N' Blues Greats
Jazz - Released by Stardust on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spoon - Live At Condon's, New York
Blues - Released by Synergie OMP on 9 Oct 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Spoon Sings the Blues, 1946-1950Blues Collection
Blues - Released by EPM on 5 Feb 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon Selected Favorites
R&B - Released by Charly Records on 20 Jun 2006
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Ain't Nobody's Business
Jazz - Released by Redwood Records on 12 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spoon in Australia (Live)
Jimmy Witherspoon, Peter Gaudion's Blues Express
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 31 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Milestones: Jimmy Witherspoon, Vol. 2
Jimmy Witherspoon, Gerry Mulligan, Ben Webster
Jazz - Released by 21-Music on 10 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Ultimate Jazz Archive 16 (2 Of 4)
Jazz - Released by Carinco AG on 18 Feb 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -