by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
WHAT: Rhythm & Ribs Festival
WHEN: Friday - Sunday, March 30th - April 1st
(James Cotton will be performing Saturday, March 31st)
WHERE: Francis Field, St. Augustine
With the help of James Cotton’s wife and manager, Jacklyn, I chatted with James Cotton via telephone. James had a bad cold and it was difficult for him to speak. Jacklyn acted as a translator. Today, James is in the early stages of recording a blues/pop cross-over album, with songwriters writing songs and guest artists being lined-up.
“The project is in its infancy but we are excited by the possibilities. I’ve done blues rock cross-over albums in the past, and they were quite successful. But this time, I wanted to go more mainstream pop, flavored by blues. It’s not that I’m bored with blues, I just wanted to do something different and expand my musical horizons. I’ve got some great songwriters working on songs and I will invite guest artists to participate. Meanwhile, I’m continuing to tour and I’m looking forward to coming down to St. Augustine on March 31 for the Rhythm & Ribs Festival,” James said.
71 year old James Cotton is a national treasure and an award winning blues artist with deep Mississippi roots that go back to the 1930s when James was mentored by Sonny Boy Williamson beginning at 9 years old. Born in Tunica, Mississippi, James was steeped in the Mississippi blues tradition under Sonny Boy tutelage at his daily radio broadcast on KFFA in Helena, Arkansas. When James first met Sonny Boy, he was able to play a song on his harmonica note-for-note just after Sonny Boy played it. This really impressed Sonny Boy who took James under his wing and helped him learn music on the fly. During James’ early years, he lived, worked, and traveled with Sonny Boy.
At age 15, James inherited Sonny Boy’s road-seasoned band. Sonny Boy gave him the band when he was having marital difficulties with his wife and he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, leaving James and the band in Memphis.
“He just walked in one day and said the band was mine and he was leaving,” James said
Gradually, members of Sonny Boy’s band left and James played and recorded with Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Nix, making his recording debut as a drummer in 1953 on Straighten Up Baby, released by Sam Phillip’s Sun Records.
In 1954, James hooked up with Muddy Waters’ as his harmonica player. At the time Junior Wells was with Muddy, but inexplicably left the band while on the road. James worked with Muddy for the next 12 years. During that time, Muddy expected James to fill Little Walter’s shoes and play just like him. After James’ frustration level reached critical mass, he finally told Muddy to let him be himself. This led to James’ famous harp solo on Muddy’s signature song, ‘I’ve Got My Mojo Working’ at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival.
With James Cotton’s new name recognition as his hook, he formed his own band in 1966 as The James Cotton Blues Bank.
“I loved Muddy very much, and I respected him very much. But I did all I could there. It was time to move on and do something else. It was hard for me to give up that security to go into the unknown,” James said.
He then signed with Verve and released four critically acclaimed albums, which crossed over into the blues/rock market. This got the attention of rock impresarios like Bill Graham who booked him at rock festivals and blues venues such as the Fillmore West in San Francisco and Fillmore East in New York City, opening for the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Through the 1970s and 1980s James toured with his own band as well as working with Johnny Winter and Muddy Waters again. In 1984, James signed with Alligator Records and released High Compression, an album that featured traditional blues with famed blues pianist Pinetop Perkins and guitarist Magic Slim. In 2000, James made his debut on the Telarc label with Fire Down Under the Hill.
Indeed, James Cotton is a blues legend who is still blazing new trails. Recently, he has appeared on David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, winning many new fans in today’s youth culture. Young people are always looking for authentic roots musicians who serve as inspiration for their new music. Yes, James Cotton is the real deal.
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