Jimmy Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer.
James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. 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," 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", "Big Fine Girl", as well as "Failing By Degrees" and "New Orleans Woman" recorded with the Gene Gilbeaux Orchestra which included Herman Washington and Don Hill on the Modern Records label. These were recorded from a live performance on May 10, 1949 at a "Just Jazz" concert Pasadena, CA sponsored by Gene Norman. 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. He later recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Leroy Vinnegar, Richard "Groove" Holmes and T-Bone Walker.
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 Dick Morrissey, again, and Terry Smith. In the 1970s he also recorded the album Guilty! (later released on CD as Black & White Blues) with Eric Burdon 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. He continued performing and recording into the 1990s.
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, Van Morrison, Dutch Swing College Band, Gene Gilbeaux and others.
Acting
In the 1995 film Georgia, Witherspoon portrayed a traveling, gun-collecting blues singer, Trucker, who has a relationship with the troubled character Sadie, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Death
Witherspoon died of throat cancer in Los Angeles, California on September 18, 1997.
CD1
01. Hard Working Man Blues [03:19]
02. Shipyard Woman Blues [03:00]
03. Ernestine [02:47]
04. Roll On, Katy [03:03]
05. Voodoo Woman Blues [02:35]
06. Have You Ever Loved A Woman [02:45]
07. Wandering Gal Blues [02:49]
08. Hey Mr. Landlord [02:43]
09. Cain River Blues [02:44]
10. How I Hate To See Xmas Come Around [02:57]
11. Third Floor Blues [02:53]
12. Money's Getting Cheaper [02:54]
13. Skid Row Blues [02:47]
14. Ain't Nobody's Business Part 1 [02:54]
15. Ain't Nobody's Business Part 2 [03:06]
16. Back Water Blues [03:06]
17. Six-Foot-Two Blues [02:38]
18. Money Eyes Woman [02:34]
19. How You Gonna Act [02:45]
20. Spoon Calls Hootie [02:42]
21. Destruction Blues [02:32]
22. Call My Baby [02:20]
23. The New Look [02:25]
24. Drunk, Broke And Hungry [02:30]
25. Funny Style Baby [02:23]
CD2
01. Cold Blooded Boogie [02:42]
02. Lush Head Woman [02:34]
03. Long About Dawn [02:47]
04. Thelma Lee Blues [02:39]
05. Pinochio Blues [02:39]
06. Your Red Wagon [02:43]
07. Feelin' So Bad [02:36]
08. Same Old Blues [02:38]
09. I Love You Just The Same [02:46]
10. Jump Children [02:45]
11. Take Me Back Baby [02:42]
12. When I Had My Money [03:02]
13. Doctor Blues [02:10]
14. Big Fine Girl [02:28]
15. Drinkin' Beer (Havin' A Ball) [02:11]
16. Better Love Next Time Part 1 [02:14]
17. Better Love Next Time Part 2 [02:26]
18. Hard Workin' Blues [03:07]
19. Failing By Degrees [03:09]
20. New Orleans Woman [02:24]
21. I'm Goin' Around In Circles [03:06]
22. Just A Country Boy [02:59]
23. There Ain't Nothin' Better [02:55]
24. Once There Lived A Fool [02:38]
25. I'm Just Wondering Part 1 [02:35]
26. I'm Just Wondering Part 2 [02:24]
CD3
01. I'm Just A Ladies Man [02:23]
02. You Can't Kiss A Dream Goodnight [02:25]
03. I Gotta Gal Lives Up On The Hill [02:16]
04. Fickle Woman [02:33]
05. I Done Found Out [03:03]
06. Real Ugly Woman [02:45]
07. Give My Heart Another Break [03:00]
08. Would My Baby Make A Change [02:33]
09. The Wind Is Blowin' [02:50]
10. Baby Baby [02:15]
11. Slow Your Speed [02:57]
12. Foolish Prayer [01:57]
13. Lucille [02:32]
14. Two Little Girls [02:31]
15. One Fine Gal [02:22]
16. Don't Tell Me Now [03:00]
17. Corn Whiskey [02:10]
18. Jay's Blues Part 1 [02:32]
19. Miss, Miss Mistreater [02:09]
20. Back Home [02:39]
21. The Last Mile [02:54]
22. It [02:22]
23. Back Door Blues [03:08]
24. Fast Women, Slow Gin [02:30]
25. 24 Sad Hours [02:37]
CD4
01. Just For You [02:22]
02. Sad Life [02:49]
03. Move Me Baby [02:30]
04. Highway To Happiness [02:34]
05. I Done Told You [02:35]
06. Oh Boy [02:19]
07. When The Lights Go Out [02:57]
08. How Long Blues [03:02]
09. When The Sun Goes Down [03:39]
10. See See Rider [04:01]
11. When I've Been Drinking [03:34]
12. All That's Good [02:59]
13. It Ain't What You're Thinkin' [03:22]
14. Wee Baby Blues [03:15]
15. Times Are Changing [02:55]
16. There's Good Rockin' Tonight [04:10]
17. Midnight Blues (Red Shirt) [05:15]
18. Sweet's Blues [05:14]
19. No Rollin' Blues [05:31]
20. The Masquerade Is Over [02:48]
21. Have Faith [02:16]
22. Warm Your Heart [02:22]
23. Lovey Dovey [02:15]
24. Confessin' The Blues [02:57]
