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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Feelin' the Spirit
Jimmy Witherspoon, Randy Van Horn Singers
Gospel - Released by HIFI Records on Jun 2, 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon Sings The Blues
R&B - Released by Crownstar Records on Jan 26, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz After Midnight (feat. Jazz After Midnight)
Jazz - Released by Silver Classics Jazz on Nov 5, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
'Spoon and Groove
Jimmy Witherspoon, Groove Holmes
Blues - Released by Tradition Records on Jun 9, 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Jimmy Witherspoon at Monterey (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on Mar 9, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy & Louis Play the Blues
Jimmy Witherspoon, Louis Jordan
Blues - Released by Orange Leisure on Apr 5, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Box (The Jazz Series)
Jazz - Released by Two Bass Hits on Sep 26, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All Blues, Jimmy Witherspoon
Blues - Released by LucasRecords on Nov 9, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Spoon sings the blues (1946-1950)
Blues - Released by EPM on Feb 5, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Goin' to Kansas City Blues
Jimmy Witherspoon, Jay McShann And His Band
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on Aug 31, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's None Of Your Business
Jazz - Released by Reminisce Music on May 29, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Renaissance 1960
Soul - Released by Good Time Records on Jun 16, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Move Me Baby! Greatest Hits and More (1947-1955)
Blues - Released by Jasmine Records on Nov 6, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Just at the Turn of the Tide
Jazz - Released by turn of the tide on Apr 7, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Jimmy Witherspoon: Goin' to Kansas City Blues with Jay McShann and his Band
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on Jul 12, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Rain, Rain, Rain
Blues - Released by Vintage Jukebox on Jan 26, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Call My Baby
Blues - Released by Night Train International on Feb 12, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo