James Cotton

James Cotton
James Cotton
	James Cotton 2007
Background information
Born	July 1, 1935; Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Died	March 16, 2017 (aged 81); Austin, Texas, United States
Genres	Blues, Chicago blues, Delta blues, Electric blues, Jazz, Memphis blues, Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Vocals, harmonica, drums
Years active	1953–2017
Labels	Buddah Records; Alligator Records; Telarc International
Website	Official website

James "Jimmy" Cotton (July 1, 1935 – March 16, 2017), was an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. He was an orphan.

Career

Cotton first became interested in playing music when he heard Sonny Boy Williamson on the radio. He left his home to find Sonny Boy Williamson, and when he found him (in West Helena, Arkansas), Williamson took him in and raised him. Blues singer Bobby Bland was his half-brother.^[3]

First band

Cotton first began playing the blues harp in Williamson's band, called Howlin Wolf's. After one gig, Sonny Boy quit the band to live with his wife in Milwaukee. He left the band in Cotton's hands. Cotton said, "He just gave it to me. But I couldn't hold it together 'cause I was too young and crazy in those days an' everybody in the band was grown men, so much older than me."

Later career

Cotton started working with the Muddy Waters Band in 1955. He performed songs like "I Got My Mojo Working" and "She's Nineteen Years Old". After leaving Muddy's band in 1966, Cotton toured with Janis Joplin. Alone, Cotton wrote classic songs like "Cotton Crop Blues", "Rocket 88" and "Hold Me In Your Arms". He formed the James Cotton Blues Band in 1967. They performed all of Cotton's classics and more.

Death

Cotton died at a medical center in Austin, Texas from pneumonia on March 16, 2017 at the age of 81.^[4]

Awards

Cotton played harmonica on Muddy Water's Grammy Award winning 1977 album Hard Again. James Cotton's band would also get nominated for two Grammy Awards. The first one was for his 1984 release, Live From Chicago: Mr. Superharp Himself!. His second for Take Me Back.

Performances

Cotton played with the following people:

Albums

Chicago/The Blues/Today! vol. 2
Take Me Back
3 Harp Boogie
Live from Chicago Mr. Superharp Himself
High Compression
100% Cotton
Live & On the Move
Cut You Loose!
Mighty Long Time
Fire Down Under the Hill
Baby, Don't You Tear My Cloths
Deep in the Blues
Living the Blues
35th Anniversary Jam

References

↑ Allmusic biography by Bill Dahl
↑ Herzhaft, Gérard (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues (2 ed.). Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. p. 45. ISBN 1557284520.
↑ Friskics-Warren, Bill (June 24, 2013). "Bobby (Blue) Bland, Soul and Blues Balladeer, Dies at 83". New York Times.
↑ Andrew Flanagan (March 16, 2017). "James Cotton, Giant Of The Blues Harmonica, Dies At 81". NPR. Retrieved March 16, 2017.

Other websites

All Music Guide
James Cotton discography from Music City Archived 2012-03-08 at the Wayback Machine
His official website
Review of Breakin' It Up Breakin' It Down CD Archived 2007-10-14 at the Wayback Machine

[amg-1] Allmusic biography by Bill Dahl

[2] Herzhaft, Gérard (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues (2 ed.). Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. p. 45. ISBN 1557284520.

[NYTobit-3] Friskics-Warren, Bill (June 24, 2013). "Bobby (Blue) Bland, Soul and Blues Balladeer, Dies at 83". New York Times.

[4] Andrew Flanagan (March 16, 2017). "James Cotton, Giant Of The Blues Harmonica, Dies At 81". NPR. Retrieved March 16, 2017.

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