Jimmy Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American blues singer.

[edit] Biography

James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas.^[1] He first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during World War II. Witherspoon made his first records with Jay McShann's band in 1945. In 1949, recording under his own name with the McShann band, he had his first hit, "Ain't Nobody's Business,"^[1] a song which came to be regarded as his signature tune. In 1950 he had hits with two more songs closely identified with him: "No Rollin' Blues" and "Big Fine Girl". Another classic Witherspoon composition is "Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough".

Witherspoon's style of blues - that of the "blues shouter" - became unfashionable in the mid-1950s, but he returned to popularity with his 1959 album, Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival, which featured Roy Eldridge, Woody Herman, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines and Mel Lewis, among others.^[2] He later recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Leroy Vinnegar, Richard "Groove" Holmes and T-Bone Walker.^[1]

In 1961 he toured Europe with Buck Clayton and returned to the UK on many occasions, featuring on a mid-sixties live UK recording Spoon Sings and Swings (1966) with tenor sax player Dick Morrissey's quartet. In 1970, he appeared on Brother Jack McDuff's London Blue Note recording To Seek a New Home together with British jazz musicians, including Terry Smith and Dick Morrissey. In the 1970s he also recorded the album Guilty (later released on CD as Black & White Blues) with Eric Burdon^[1] and featuring Ike White & the San Quentin Prison Band. He then toured with a band of his own featuring Robben Ford and Russ Ferrante. A recording from this period, Spoonful, featured 'Spoon' accompanied by Robben Ford, Joe Sample, Cornell Dupree, Thad Jones and Bernard Purdie.^[3] He continued performing and recording into the 1990s.^[3]

Other performers with whom Witherspoon recorded include Jimmy Rowles, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Vernon Alley, Mel Lewis, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wiggins, John Clayton, Paul Humphrey, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jimmy Smith, Long John Baldry, Junior Mance, Ellington bassist Jimmy Woode, Kenny Clarke, Gerry Mulligan, Jim Mullen, Count Basie, Gene Gilbeaux and others.

Witherspoon died of throat cancer in Los Angeles, California on September 18, 1997.^[4]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

• "You're Next" - (1965) Pop Singles #98
• "Love Is A Five Letter Word" - (1975) Black Singles #31

[edit] Albums

• Love Is A Five Letter Word (1975) - Black Albums #26
• Love Is A Five Letter Word (1975) - Pop Albums #176
• Spoonful - (1976) Black Albums #57
• The Best of Jimmy Witherspoon (2001, Cedar)
• Live at the Mint (1996, On the Spot)

[edit] Filmography

• 2000 Jazz Casual: Jimmy Witherspoon & Ben Webster (Jazz Casual/Idem)^[5]
• 2009 Jimmy Witherspoon: Goin' Down Blues with Marshall Royal and John Collins

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Jimmy Witherspoon at Allmusic