Jimmy Witherspoon

Jimmy Witherspoon ( born August 8, 1923 in Gurdon, Arkansas, † September 18, 1997 in Los Angeles, California ), actually James Witherspoon, by his fans simply called Spoon, was an American blues and jazz singer. Throughout his career, he was said to be involved in more than 200 albums. His hits include Blues Around the Clock, Some of My Best Friends are the Blues and Blue Spoon.

Life

First attracted attention Witherspoon as singer of the band of Teddy Weatherford in Calcutta, India, which was heard regularly during the Second World War in radio broadcasts for the U.S. Army.

1945 Witherspoon made ​​his first recordings with the band of Jay McShann. His first hit under his own name, Is not Nobody's Business, which he recorded with McShanns band, he had in 1949. Was followed by the 1950 hit No Rollin 'Blues and Big Fine Girl. Mid-1950s was after the success, but the album Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1959 was enthusiastically received.

Witherspoon made ​​recordings and has performed with many sizes of blues and jazz, among other things, with Ben Webster, Eric Burdon, Van Morrison, Count Basie, Alexis Korner, Earl Hines, Robben Ford, Bonnie Raitt and T -Bone Walker. He also appeared in a number of films and TV movies, such as Georgia with Jennifer Jason Leigh and The Big Easy.

In the 1980s, cancer was found in Witherspoon. After surgery, he recovered and returned to the stage. In 1997 he received a Grammy nomination for the album Live At The Mint.

Jimmy Witherspoon died in 1997 at the age of 74 years. In 2008 he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Discography

Albums

• 2003 20th Century Jazz Masters: Mel Torme / Jimmy Witherspoon / Carmen McRae / Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan
• 2003 Jimmy Rushing / Jimmy Witherspoon Jazz Casual
• 2009 Goin ' Down Blues