A full halfcentury from when he started out in the blues business, jimmy mccracklin was still touring, recording, and acting like a much younger man. One of the pioneers of west coast blues, singer, pianist and songwriter jimmy mccracklin enjoyed one of the longest recording careers in the blues, lasting from 1945 until 2010. Jimmy mccracklin biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Over a career that spanned seven decades, he said he had written almost. Jimmy mccracklin, one of the most prolific blues singers and songwriters of all time. Tom mazzolini of the san francisco blues festival said of him, he was probably the most. In his heyday, from the late 40s through the 60s, jimmy mccracklin led one of the toughest, hardest rocking blues bands on the west coast.
Over a career that has spanned seven decades, he says he has written almost a thousand songs and has recorded hundreds of them. Hire ron thompson blues band in san francisco, california. For over fifty years bobby has had a love affair with music, and the guitar. Steve gannon london, englandborn guitarist steve gannon came to oakland, california in 1982 and soon became active on the local blues scene, initially playing at afterhours clubs and jamsessions and then working with the bands of j. It was a welcoming, familylike atmosphere that nurtured young musicians regardless of race, nationality or. On any given night one could run into johnny heartsman, gene chambers, marshall jones, al arnett or any number of future blues hall of fame members. Four years later he formed his own band, the blues blasters, in san francisco and recorded for modern records. The show is an exploration of traditional blues spanning the 1920s through the 1970s. Louis, missouri, united states is an american pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. The blues scene in sacramento in the mideighties was unusually vibrant and alive. Records while he and his band, the blues blasters, were in chicago. Jimmy mccracklin new songs, albums, biography, chart history, photos, videos, news, and more on billboard, the goto source for whats hot in music. Dec 14, 2012 down town records 1948 bw bad condition blues.
Top 15 blues bands for hire in san francisco, ca 100%. Mccracklin, jimmy blues blasters boogie19451955 amazon. Bay, says edward chmelewski, president of san francisco blues. Chicago, in the early 50s, was a time when a blues band couldnt get work unless. Louis, missouri, august, 1921 san pablo, california, december 20, 2012 was an american pianist, vocalist, harmonica player and songwriter. Jimmy mccracklin, san francisco blues release by jimmy mccracklin see all versions of this release, 1 available.
These days, he has a special place in the hearts of those who collect soulblues records, especially those from the start of his career, upon which this compilation focuses. Strongly influenced by the likes of hendrix, clapton, alvin lee, leslie west, sly stone and freddie stone, he has played and recorded with a long list of people including. Recorded in chicago, where he and his band, the blues blasters, had been. The blues collection the blues collection 66 jimmy. Mazzolini is the producer of the san francisco blues festival and has been since its inception in 1973.
Jimmy mccracklin august, 1921 december 20, 2012 was an american pianist, vocalist. Jimmy mccracklin has now been making records for well over 50 years. To view the artists exhibit, double click on their name. He performed dat the 2006 san francisco jazz festival, and spent a year in paris, france, while touring europe. Debuting in 1973, the san francisco blues festival was one of the longest running blues festival in the united states. A former professional boxer, mccracklin began his singing career in 1945 when he recorded some demos with j. Sf releases plan to clean tenderloin amid covid outbreak. Mccracklin, who remained a major figure on the bay area blues scene, was called the face of oakland blues by san francisco blues festival founder tom mazzolini. From the black light explosion era in the early 1970s around the san francisco bay area emerged raymond simmons, afrostyled conga drummer extraordinaire. Jimmy mccracklin was one of the leading and most versatile singer songwriters in the field of soul blues. Buy mp3 music online the blues collection the blues collection 66 jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues the blues collection the blues collection 66 jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues. Jimmy mccracklin southern soul blues cd store blues critic. Jimmy mccracklin was an american pianist, vocalist, and songwriter.
Jimmy mccracklin, one of the most prolific blues singers and songwriters of all time, with a recording career that spanned 1945 to 2010, died thursday at creekside healthcare center in san pablo. Cale ray charles eric clapton willie cobbs ry cooder james cotton robert cray bo diddley floyd dixon dr. He formed a group called jimmy mccracklin and his blues blasters in 1946, with guitarist robert kelton, later replaced by lafayette thomas who remained with the group until the early 1960s. In fact, he vehemently disputed his commonly accepted read full biography. Canadian born singer, guitarist jimmy c moved to britain via vancouver, san francisco and japan since when jimmy and the band are earning a deserved reputation as one of the most entertaining and hardworking bands on the london circuit. Tom mazzolini of the san francisco blues festival said of him, he was probably the most important musician to come out of the bay area in the postworld war ii years. Updated regularly with playlists, show notes and blues articles.
Rounding out the tough rhythm section is long time drummer butch cousins younger brother to richard cousins robert cray bassist, and newest member bassist tim wagar, a stalwart of the san francisco blues scene and beyond lavern baker, james cotton, jimmy mccracklin, lowell fulson. These blues bands can have you swaying back and forth with the beat, so book one of these blues bands for your next event or club. Jimmy mccracklin, a blues singer and pianist who by his count. Jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues releases discogs. Jimmy mccracklin sings, his first solo album, was released in 1962, in the west coast blues style. Jimmy mccracklin biography jimmy mccracklin james david walker, st. Jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues 1992, cd discogs. Jimmy mccracklin 19511954 music cd album at cd universe, this volume commences with the last batch recorded by or sold to swing time records in 1951, by which time. In 1945, mccracklin teamed up with blues pianist j. The california rocknroll roots music band the blasters named themselves after mccracklins backing band the blues blasters.
Jimmy mccracklin was one of the leading and most versatile singer songwriters in the field of soulblues. He moved to san francisco for high school and started playing bass in soul bands. The duo went into the studio to make their own dubs, which they hawked around to local indies. Joe louis walker, sugar pie desanto, jimmy mccracklin a blues revival.
Alto saxophonist john handy came to the bay area from dallas when he was fifteen, joined three bands at mcclymonds high school in oakland and was soon playing in the san francisco fillmore districts jazz clubs, particularly bop city, which he considered a second home. Released in 1996 on orbis publishing ltd catalog no. The natural four, sugar pie desanto, richard dimples fields, john lee hooker, maria muldaur, jimmy mccracklin, craig horton, snooky flowers, cool. These days, he has a special place in the hearts of those who collect soul blues records, especially those from the start of his career, upon which this compilation focuses.
Mccracklin was best known for his 1958 dance hit, the walk. In 1962, mccracklin recorded just got to know for his own arttone label in oakland. Jul 09, 2019 jimmy mccracklin james david walker, st. For a brief period in the early 1970s mccracklin ran the continental club in san francisco. This selection of 25 of his very earliest recordings represent his artistic development from his first attempts to emulate the piano blues of walter davis through his rocking jump bands of the early fifties. For the past forty years raymond has played with dance classes, drum choirs, dance troupes, acting groups and reggae, blues and rock bands. For the past forty years raymond has played with dance classes, drum choirs, dance. Ron thompson is a legendary rhythm and blues guitarist and master keyboardist whose career began in the rough and tumble world of east san francisco bay nightclubs and bars in the early 1970s.
The blues singer and songwriter jimmy mccracklin, who has died aged 91, was. The blues singer and songwriter jimmy mccracklin, who has died aged 91, was one of the last survivors of the west coast blues scene of the 1940s to. Listen free to jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues the walk, im to blame and more. During the second world war he served in the navy, stationed at a base in long beach, california. Big road blues radio airs on sundays 5 to 7 pm est on wgmc jazz90. He formed the blues blasters, with lafayette the thing thomas on guitar, and hopped around labels like a frog on a lilypond. A 19901991 rhythm and blues foundation pioneer award winner, jimmy mccracklin will forever be known as one of the architects of the west coast blues sound, and among certain audiences, one of its biggest stars.
Tom mazzolini of the san francisco blues festival said of him, he was probably the most important musician to come out of the bay read more jimmy mccracklin james david walker, st. Tom mazzolini, the events producer, founded the blues festival to educate the public about the history and evolution of the blues. Jimmy mccracklin biography a 19901991 rhythm and blues foundation pioneer award winner, jimmy mccracklin will forever be known as one of the architects of the west coast blues sound, and among certain audiences, one of its biggest stars. Tom mazzolini has made sure the blues bands play on the san.
Mccracklin recorded over 30 albums, and earned four gold records. They come from different eras and include styles such as ragtimevaudeville, delta and country blues, and urban styles from chicago and the west coast. Blues musicians are musical artists who are primarily recognized as writing, performing, and recording blues music. John handy visionary jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Search for blues bands in san francisco, california above. Cavatone, modern, peacock, trilon, swingtime and geddins own downtown all issued mccracklin tracks. Dec 20, 2012 a full halfcentury from when he started out in the blues business, jimmy mccracklin was still touring, recording, and acting like a much younger man. West coast blues all about blues musicyour online blues. San franciscan local pat wilder has spent the past 30 years working as guitarist in a series of funk, rock, and blues bands around the bay area, including stints with keyboardist billy dunn and singers curtis lawson, zakiya hooker, jimmy mccracklin, and luther tucker. A look back at san franciscos bebop era by the fillmores associate. Just ask tom mazzolini for the past 26 years, mazzolini has been producing the san francisco blues festival.
Blues jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues 1992, cd discogs. Malone, eddie ray and sonny rhodes with whom he coproduced the criticallyacclaimed just blues album. Jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues 1996, cd discogs. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. From the black light explosion psychedelic era in the early 1970s around the san francisco bay area emerged raymond simmons, afrostyled conga drummer extraordinaire. Dec 28, 2012 the blues singer and songwriter jimmy mccracklin, who has died aged 91, was one of the last survivors of the west coast blues scene of the 1940s to 60s. After the war jimmy opted to stay on the west coast, settling in san francisco. The rollcall of artists who have used his compositions includes the. This was during the late 60s, and joe was enamored of the san francisco sound, and saw many of the greats, including hendrix, cream, doors, big brother, etc.