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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With The Junior Mance Trio
Blues - Erschienen bei Stony Plain Records am 08.04.1997
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Blues Horns
Bill Doggett, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lonnie Johnson
Blues - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 05.08.2015
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Numero Uno Blues
Jazz - Erschienen bei Excess Music am 29.05.2020
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Bam-A-Lam
Mickey Champion, The Robins, The Nic Nacs, Roy Milton, Jimmy Witherspoon
Blues - Erschienen bei Kenzo Records am 06.01.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1947-1948
Blues - Erschienen bei Classics Blues & Rhythm Series am 04.08.2008
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Hard Working Man
Blues - Erschienen bei Proper Box am 01.12.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Person (Olympia Concert) [Remastered]
Jazz - Erschienen bei Avid Entertainment am 09.03.2014
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Jazz Spotlight - Jimmy Witherspoon
Jazz - Erschienen bei GTUK am 14.12.2021
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Time's Gettin' Tougher Than Tough
Gerry Mulligan, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gerry Mulligan & Jimmy Witherspoon
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Room am 01.07.2010
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Jimmy Witherspoon - Vintage Selection
Blues - Erschienen bei Vintage Jukebox am 20.10.2020
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Jazz Milestones: Jimmy Witherspoon, Vol. 3
Jazz - Erschienen bei 21-Music am 10.10.2013
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Blowin' in from Kansas City
Blues - Erschienen bei ACE RECORDS am 24.11.2008
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Goin' To Chicago
Blues - Erschienen bei Collecting Records OMP am 01.01.2007
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Late Night Jazz N' Blues Greats
Jazz - Erschienen bei Stardust am 01.01.2008
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Gone with the Blues
Jimmy Witherspoon, Jay McShann & Beyond
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Jasmine Records am 01.12.2008
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Spoon - Live At Condon's, New York
Blues - Erschienen bei Synergie OMP am 09.10.2007
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Skid Row Blues
Blues - Erschienen bei Freight Train am 08.01.2007
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