James Cotton is a blues harp player, singer and songwriter with a dynamic stage presence who learned his art playing with Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.
James Cotton was born in 1935 in Tunica, Mississippi. At age nine, he left home and moved in with Sonny Boy Williamson, the master of the blues harmonica. In 1953, Sun Records issued his single "Straighten Up Baby", followed by "Cotton Crop Blues" in 1954.
In 1955 James Cotton joined Muddy Waters, replacing Little Walter on the stage, although Little Walter continued to record with Muddy Waters until 1958. Some of his best songs of that time were "I've Got My Mojo Working" and "She's Nineteen Years Old".
In 1965 he formed the Jimmy Cotton Blues Band, with Otis Spann on piano. After leaving Muddy Waters in 1966, James Cotton toured with Janis Joplin. He formed the James Cotton Blues Band in 1967.
His career was at its peak in the 1970s. His 1974 album "100% Cotton" is arguably his finest. To quote Bill Dahl writing for Bluesharp, "James Cotton was a bouncing, sweaty, whirling dervish of a bluesman, roaring his vocals and all but sucking the reeds right out of his defenseless little harmonicas with his prodigious lungpower. "
James Cotton has continued to record and perform until present times, and has won two Grammy awards, one for the album "Live From Chicago" and the second for "Take Me Back".
Rocket 88
The Creeper
Slow Blues
Got My Mojo Working (1966) with Muddy Waters
LinksOfficial James Cotton Site
|