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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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 mrt. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spoon so Easy
Blues - Released by Lucas RecordsDigital on 22 jan. 2016
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 -
Live at the Olympia, Paris (Live)
Blues - Released by Putlabel on 22 aug. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Please Send Me Someone to Love
Blues - Released by Westwind on 25 apr. 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The King of Blues (Remastered)
Blues - Released by Master Tape Records on 9 okt. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Six Foot Two Blues
Blues - Released by 1201 MUSIC on 6 sep. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Urban Blues Singing Legend 1947-1948
Blues - Released by JSP on 28 nov. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Witherspoon Mulligan Webster at the Renaissance (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 9 mrt. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Every Time I Feel the Spirit
Funk - Released by HIFI Records on 24 aug. 1959
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kansas City Forever
Blues - Released by Collecting Records OMP on 12 jun. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roots Summit
Jimmy Witherspoon, Ben Webster
Blues - Released by Sleeping Giant Music on 9 jun. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Urban Blues Singing Legend 1945-1947
Blues - Released by JSP on 28 nov. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Is a Five Letter Word
Blues - Released by Avenue records on 1 jan. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Goin' to Kansas City Blues (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 9 mrt. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Working 'Round The Clock (Live Chicago '91) (Live)
Jimmy Witherspoon, Richard Groove Holmes
Blues - Released by Wolf Tree on 18 sep. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Feelin' the Spirit
Jimmy Witherspoon, Randy Van Horn Singers
Gospel - Released by HIFI Records on 2 jun. 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon Sings The Blues
R&B - Released by Crownstar Records on 26 jan. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo