jimmy witherspoon

biography | selected discography | selected songs

"Aside from being one of history's GREATEST BLUES SINGERS (in my mind THE GREATEST) he was a master performer and the EPITOME of "COOL." - Robben Ford "When you would go see Spoon you were transported immediately from the time he opened his mouth and started to sing. He transported you from wherever you were to another place." - Joe Williams One of the greatest blues singers of the Post-World War II period, Jimmy Witherspoon recorded over 200 albums during his illustrious career. Born in Gurdon, Arkansas in 1923 and raised in a musical family, 'Spoon's first musical experiences were in the church where his father sang in the choir and his mother played piano. In his teens Witherspoon moved to Los Angeles in search of work and during that time he befriended the legendary T-Bone Walker on Central Avenue and sat in with him frequently. His first professional work came during World War II performing with bandleader Teddy Weatherford for Armed Forces Radio while stationed in Calcutta, India. After returning to the states, he joined the Jay McShann Band (featuring a young Charlie Parker). He recorded with McShann for several years before striking out on his own. His first hit record in 1949, "Ain't Nobody's Business" was one of the biggest records of that era, and a #1 R&B hit that stayed on the Billboard charts 34 weeks that year. During the next several decades 'Spoon managed to span the worlds of blues, R&B and jazz with his deep baritone and unique style anchored in the big band blues traditions. In 1959 at the Monterey Jazz festival, Witherspoon appeared with an all-star group of jazz musicians including Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Woody Herman, and Earl "Fatha" Hines. His amazing performance that day was captured on the album, "Jimmy Witherspoon at Monterey" and that recording cemented his place forever among the world's leading ranks of jazz and blues singers. His 1963 record "Evening Blues" with T-Bone Walker on guitar and Clifford Scott on saxophone became another classic. Witherspoon continued making records and performing throughout the 70's and 80's and 90's working with a wide assortment of artists such as Dr. John, Earl Hooker, Eric Burdon, Kenny Burrell, Doc Pomus, Jack McDuff, Charles Brown, Van Morrison, Duke Robillard and Count Basie among others. His recording "Live at The Mint" with guitarist Robben Ford garnered him a 1997 Grammy nomination. 'Spoon was also an accomplished actor and appeared in many films and TV shows during these years including "The Black Godfather", "Georgia" and "The Big Easy". Up until his last show, Witherspoon still had a big, rangy, booming voice, an intimate and highly personal way with a lyric, and an ability to plumb the emotional depths and soar to ecstatic peaks. He was a singer that constantly reminded us that without the blues, jazz simply would not exist. On September 18, 1997 he passed away in his sleep at the age of 74 in Los Angeles, his longtime home. selected discography: At The Monterey Jazz Festival - HiFi Jazz Witherspoon, Mulligan, Webster at The Renaissance - HiFi Jazz Baby, Baby, Baby - Prestige Blowing in From Kansas City - Virgin/Flair Evening Blues - Prestige Jazz Casual (w/Ben Webster) - Koch Jazz Me Blues - Prestige Live At The Mint - BMG (1997 Grammy Nominee) LIVE: Jimmy Witherspoon & Robben Ford - Avenue Jazz Love Is A Five Letter Word - Avenue Jazz Some of My Best Friends Are The Blues - Fantasy Spoon So Easy: The Chess Years - MCA/Chess Jay's Blues (The Federal Sessions) - Charly selected songs: Ain't Nobody's Business Big Fine Girl Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You Going Down Slow In The Evening Money's Getter Cheaper No Rollin' Blues Times Are Getting Tougher than Tougher