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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The Very Best of Jump Blues Musicians Jimmy Witherspoon & Lionel Hampton
Jimmy Witherspoon, Lionel Hampton
Blues - Editado por Platinum Collection el 14 feb. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon (Have I Got Blues Got You)
Blues - Editado por Imperial Presents el 6 dic. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spoon's Blues
Blues - Editado por Stony Plain Records el 20 jun. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon at the Renaissance (Live)
Jimmy Witherspoon, Jerry Mulligan, Ben Webster
Jazz - Editado por HiFi Records el 6 jul. 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
American Blues
Jimmy Witherspoon, Howard Scott
Blues - Editado por Avenue records el 1 ene. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
As Blue as They Can Be
Jimmy Witherspoon, Richard Groove Holmes
Jazz - Editado por Good Time Records el 28 feb. 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Blusey Gents
Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Turner, Amos Milburn
Blues - Editado por Music Manager el 28 jul. 2015
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 - Editado por Avid Entertainment el 2 mar. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At the Monterey Jazz Festival (Live)
Jazz - Editado por HiFi Records el 6 jul. 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best Of
Blues - Editado por Master Classics Records el 1 feb. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues (Album Version)
Blues - Editado por Original Blues Classics el 15 jul. 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The King of Blues (Remastered)
Blues - Editado por Master Tape Records el 9 oct. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Six Foot Two Blues
Blues - Editado por 1201 MUSIC el 6 sep. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Urban Blues Singing Legend 1947-1948
Blues - Editado por JSP el 28 nov. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Witherspoon Mulligan Webster at the Renaissance (Remastered)
Jazz - Editado por Avid Entertainment el 9 mar. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Every Time I Feel the Spirit
Funk - Editado por HiFi Records el 24 ago. 1959
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo