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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Lets Have A Drink
R&B - Released by obligat music on 20 Nov 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Best of the Best: Jimmy Witherspoon
Blues - Released by Tsk Music on 3 Jun 2013
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Jimmy Witherspoon: Baby, Baby, Baby
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 2 Nov 2016
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Jimmy Witherspoon: Spoon
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 2 Nov 2016
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Jimmy Witherspoon: Evenin' the Blues
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 26 Oct 2016
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Jimmy Witherspoon: Blues Around the Clock
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 26 Oct 2016
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Jimmy Witherspoon: Hey MRS. Jones!
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 26 Sep 2016
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Jimmy Witherspoon: Singin' the Blues
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 26 Sep 2016
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Jimmy Witherspoon: At the Renaissance 1959
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 20 Oct 2015
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Skid Row Blues
Contemporary Jazz - Released by SKEETCHES on 2 Jun 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Ralph J. Gleason's Jazz Casual, Vol. 2
Jimmy Witherspoon, Carmen McRae, Jimmy Rushing
Jazz - Released by Jazz Casual Records on 28 Aug 2012
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Going to Chicago
Jazz - Released by Dance Plant Records Inc on 9 Jul 2012
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Highlights of Jimmy Witherspoon
Pop - Released by Weishaupt Music & Entertainment on 9 Apr 2017
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Olympia Concert
Jazz - Released by Inner City Records on 22 Apr 1961
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Ain't Nobody's Business: The Singles Collection 1945-53
Blues - Released by ACROBAT on 5 Apr 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon Selected Favorites
R&B - Released by Charly Records on 20 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo