Elmore James

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Elmore James

Background information
Born January 27, 1918(1918-01-27)
Holmes County, Mississippi
Died May 24, 1963 (aged 45)
Genre(s) Blues, Rhythm and Blues
Instrument(s) guitarist, singer, song writer and band leader

Elmore James (January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963) was an American blues guitarist, singer, song writer and band leader. His distinctive style of slide guitar playing was influential on the development of post-war blues.

Contents

[edit] Biography

James was born Elmore Brooks in the old Richland community in Holmes County, Mississippi. He was the illegitimate son of 15-year-old Leola Brooks, a field hand. His father was probably Joe Willie "Frost" James, who moved in with Leola, and so Elmore took James as his surname. His parents adopted an orphaned boy, Robert Holston, at some point.

Elmore began making music at age 12 using a simple one-string instrument ('diddley bow' or 'jitterbug') strung up on a shack wall. As a teen he was playing at local dances under the names "Cleanhead" and "Joe Willie James." His first marriage was to Minnie Mae in or around 1942, whom he apparently never divorced. He subsequently married twice, to Georgianna Crump in 1947 and to a woman called Janice in or around 1954. (Another reported marriage of Elmore to a Josephine Harris has been found to be a mistaken record; a different Elmore James.[1])

Other well-known musicians of that time with whom he played included the "second"' Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Johnson. (There is a dispute as to whether Robert Johnson or Elmore wrote James's trademark song, "Dust My Broom".[1]. Elmore was still under 20 when Johnson had recorded his version of the song.) Although Johnson died in 1938, James (like many other musicians) was strongly influenced by him, and also by Kokomo Arnold and Tampa Red. Elmore recorded several of Tampa Red's songs, and even inherited from his band two of his famous "Broomdusters", 'Little' Johnny Jones (piano) and Odie Payne (drums).

An important side to Elmore's character (and one which may have hastened his demise) was his lifelong taste for moonshine whiskey, to which he was introduced at an early age. Alcohol killed his bandmates and friends Willie Love and Johnny Jones at an early age. His regular rhythm guitarist Homesick James maintained his longevity by not taking part in the heavy drinking sessions after — and often during — gigs, a refusal that was unpopular with the rest of the band. Elmore is also reported to have been an extremely fast driver. He loved hunting with guns and dogs down in Mississippi, and would go on hunting trips for protracted periods.

During World War II James joined the United States Navy, was promoted to coxswain and took part in the invasion of Guam against the Japanese. Upon his discharge, Elmore returned to central Mississippi and eventually settled in Canton with his adopted brother Robert Holston. It was at this time that he learned he had a serious heart condition. Working in Robert's electrical shop he devised his unique electric sound, using parts from the shop and an unusual placement of two D'Armond pick ups.[1]

He began recording with Trumpet Records in nearby Jackson in January 1951, first as sideman to the second Sonny Boy Williamson and also to their mutual friend Wille Love, then debuting as a session leader in August with "Dust My Broom". It was a surprise R&B hit in 1952 and turned James into a star. He then broke his contract with Trumpet Records to sign up with the Bihari Brothers through Ike Turner, who played guitar and piano on a couple of James' early Bihari recordings. James' "I Believe" was another hit a year later. During the 1950s he recorded for the Bihari Brothers' Flair Records, Meteor Records[2] and Modern Records labels, as well as for Chess Records and Mel London's Chief Records for whom "It Hurts Me Too" was a hit. His backing musicians were known as the Broomdusters. In 1959 he began recording what are perhaps his best sides for Bobby Robinson's Fire Records label. These include "The Sky Is Crying" (credited to Elmo James and His Broomdusters), "My Bleeding Heart", "Stranger Blues", "Look On Yonder Wall", "Done Somebody Wrong", and "Shake Your Moneymaker".

Elmore James died of his third heart attack in Chicago, Illinois in 1963, just prior to a tour of Europe with that year's American Folk Blues Festival. He is buried in the Newport Baptist Church Cemetery, Ebenezer, Holmes County, Mississippi. His headstone was provided for by Phil Walden and Capricorn Records through a grant to the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund. The bronze and granite memorial features a likeness of James playing the guitar. The memorial unveiling took place on December 10, 1992 with several members of the Mississippi State Legislature in attendance along with Dick Waterman, Phil Walden, musician Marshall Crenshaw, members of James' family, and many others.

[edit] Sound

James played a wide variety of blues (which often crossed over into other styles of music) similar to that of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and some of B. B. King's work, but distinguished by the powerful sound coming from a modified hollow-bodied traditional acoustic guitar. He most often played using a slide, but on several recordings he plays without. His voice and style was as instantly recognisable as B. B.'s, Muddy's and Wolf's and, until he fell afoul of the Chicago union, he and his Broomdusters were as popular in the Chicago clubs as any of these musicians' bands.

Due to his early death, just before the 1960s "blues boom", and the silence of other famous blues performers, little is known about him. There are very few known photos of Elmore performing.

Muddy Waters took the Belgian blues fan Georges Adins to see Elmore play in Chicago in 1959. Adins recalled,

"Elmore will always remain the most exciting, dramatic blues singer and guitarist that I've ever had a chance to see perform in the flesh. On our way we listened to him on the radio as Big Bill Hill ... was broadcasting direct from that place. I was burning to see Elmore James and before we even pushed open the door of the club, we could hear Elmore's violent guitar sound. Although the place was overcrowded, we managed to find a seat close to the bandstand and the blues came falling down on me as it had never done before. Watching Elmore sing and play, backed by a solid blues band (Homesick James, J.T. Brown, Boyd Atkins and Sam Cassell) made me feel real fine. Wearing thick glasses, Elmore's face always had an expressive and dramatic look, especially when he was real gone on the slow blues. Singing with a strong and rough voice, he really didn't need a mike. On such slow blues as "I'm Worried - "Make My Dreams Come True" - "It Hurts Me", his voice reached a climax and created a tension that was unmistakably the down and out blues. Notwithstanding that raw voice, Elmore sang his blues with a particular feeling, an emotion and depth that showed his country background. His singing was... fed, reinforced by his own guitar accompaniment which was as rough, violent and expressive as was his voice. Using the bottleneck technique most of the time, Elmore really let his guitar sound as I had never heard a guitar sound before. You just couldn't sit still! You had to move..."

Georges also witnessed Elmore at 'Alex Club' in West Side Chicago where...

"...he always played for a dance audience and he made the people jump. 'Bobby's Rock' was at that time one of the favourite numbers with the crowd and Elmore used to play [it] for fifteen minutes and more. You just couldn't stand that hysteric sound coming down on you. The place was rocking, swinging!"[3]

James' last recorded session took place in New York City in 1963, shortly before his death at age 45. This session was recorded by Bobby Robinson of Fire records & Enjoy records and features several takes of 'Hand In Hand.'

His best known song is the blues standard "Dust My Broom" (also known as "Dust My Blues"). The song gave its name to James's band, The Broomdusters. The song's opening slide guitar riff is one of the best-known themes in all of blues. It is essentially the same riff that appears in the recording of the same song by Robert Johnson, but James played the riff with a slide on an electric guitar. It was even transformed into a doo-wop chorus on Jesse Stone's "Down in the Alley", recorded by The Clovers and Elvis Presley. Stone transcribed the riff as: "Changety changety changety changety chang chang!"
"Dust My Broom riff"
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

[edit] Influence

Most electric slide guitar players will admit to the massive influence of James' style.[citation needed] He was also a major influence on successful blues guitarists as Homesick James (Elmore's older cousin who was a member of Elmore's band The Broomdusters since 1957 and featured on many of his recordings), John Littlejohn, Hound Dog Taylor, J.B. Hutto and many others. He also influenced many rock guitarists such as The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones and Fleetwood Mac's Jeremy Spencer.

Elmore James' songs "Done Somebody Wrong" and "One Way Out" were covered by The Allman Brothers Band, who cited him as a major influence.[citation needed] James was also covered by blues-rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble many times in concert. The most famous of these covers is one that came by an indirect route: James' fellow bluesman Albert King recorded a cover of "The Sky Is Crying", and Stevie Ray Vaughan copied King's version of the song. That song was also covered by George Thorogood on his second album, Move It On Over and by Eric Clapton on his album There's One in Every Crowd.

Perhaps the most famous guitarist who admired Elmore James was Jimi Hendrix. Early in Hendrix's career, he styled himself variously as 'Maurice James' and subsequently as 'Jimmy James'. This, according to former band mate and recording partner Lonnie Youngblood, was a tribute to Elmore James.[4] There is a photo of Hendrix (that can be seen in the sleeve of his :blues album) in London wearing a military jacket and holding Elmore James's UK LP The Best Of Elmore James. (Hendrix was frequently photographed throughout his performing career holding LP covers of musicians that influenced him.) He performed James' "Bleeding Heart" during the Experience's Royal Albert Hall concert in 1969, and also with the Band of Gypsys at their New Year's concerts at the Fillmore East in 1969/70 as well as recording two different versions of it in the studio. Buddy Miles also sang lyrics along with Hendrix playing some motifs from James' "The Sky Is Crying" during his famous jam session at the Newport Pop Festival on June 22, 1969. Hendrix quoted several lyrics and motifs from Elmore's catalogue throughout his career.

In 1982, Eric Burdon wrote No More Elmore, a song about James' influence on him.

James is mentioned in The Beatles' song "For You Blue": while John Lennon plays the slide guitar (James' trademark), George Harrison says, "Elmore James got nothin' on this, baby." Other artists influenced by Elmore James include Frank Zappa[5] and Jeffrey Evans of the band '68 Comeback.[6]

The Grateful Dead, John Primer (Blue Steel CD), Billy Gibbons, and Eric Clapton are other notable artists to have recorded Elmore James covers.

In the Blues Brothers film(Landis-1980), Elwood Blues(Akroyd) recollects Elmore James as one of the blues' artists that Curtis(Cab Calloway) had played to himself and Jake(Belushi) in the orphanage that had influenced their lives.

[edit] Mississippi Blues Trail

Because of its strong association with Elmore James who was a familiar figure there, Canton, Mississippi was officially listed on the Mississippi Blues Trail by the Mississippi Blues Commission. James learned electronics by working in a radio repair shop on Hickory Street. A Mississippi Blues Trail historic marker was placed there to honor the great contribution of James to the development of the blues in Mississippi.[7]

In his dedication of Hickory Street, Governor Haley Barbour said,

With his innovative contributions to the electric slide guitar style, legendary Elmore James is among the many reasons Mississippi is truly the birthplace of America’s music. Like so many others, Elmore’s work was greatly influenced by his childhood home in Canton, where he joined the ranks of musicians like B.B. King and Little Milton to play the blues on Hickory Street. Today’s blues trail marker not only recognizes the achievements of the talented Elmore James but also pays tribute to Canton’s colorful blues heritage.[7]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

James recorded in an era when very few blues artists recorded LPs. The only LP released in his lifetime was 1961's Blues After Hours (Crown 5168), a budget compilation of various artists' singles produced by the Bihari Brothers. This LP was released after James had left the Biharis' management and was re-released several times after his death.

  • 1951 "Dust My Broom" b/w "Catfish Blues" [by Bobo Thomas, no Elmore] (Trumpet 146 [78])
  • 1952 "I Believe" b/w "I Held My Baby Last Night" (Meteor 5000)
  • 1953 "Baby, What's Wrong" b/w "Sinful Women" (Meteor 5003)
  • 1953 "Early In The Morning" b/w "Hawaiian Boogie" (Flair 1011)
  • 1953 "Country Boogie" b/w "She Just Won't Do Right" (Checker 777)
  • 1953 "Can't Stop Lovin" b/w "Make A Little Love" (Flair 1014)
  • 1953 "Please Find My Baby" b/w "Strange Kinda' Feeling" (Flair 1022)
  • 1954 "Hand In Hand" b/w "Make My Dreams Come True" (Flair 1031)
  • 1954 "Sho Nuff I Do" b/w "1839 Blues" (Flair 1039)
  • 1954 "Dark And Dreary" b/w "Rock My Baby Right" (Flair 1048 [78])
  • 1954 "Sunny Land" b/w "Standing At The Crossroads" (Flair 1057)
  • 1955 "Late Hours At Midnight" b/w "The Way You Treat Me" (Flair 1062)
  • 1955 "Happy Home" b/w "No Love In My Heart" (Flair 1069)
  • 1955 "Dust My Blues" b/w "I Was A Fool" (Flair 1074)
  • 1955 "I Believe My Time Ain't Long" b/w "I Wish I Was A Catfish" (Ace 508 [re-release of Trumpet 146])
  • 1955 "Blues Before Sunrise" b/w "Good Bye" (Flair 1079)
  • 1956 "Wild About You" b/w "Long Tall Woman" (Modern 983)
  • 1957 "The 12 Year Old Boy" b/w "Coming Home" (Chief 7001 & Vee Jay 249)
  • 1957 "It Hurts Me Too" b/w "Elmore's Contribution To Jazz" (Chief 7004)
  • 1957 "Elmore's Contribution To Jazz" b/w "It Hurts Me Too" (Vee Jay 259)
  • 1957 "Cry For Me Baby" b/w "Take Me Where You Go" (Chief 7006 & Vee Jay 269)
  • 1959 "Make My Dreams Come True" [re-release of Flair 1031 B-side] b/w "Bobby's Rock" (Fire 1011)
  • 1960 "Dust My Blues" [re-release of Flair 1074] b/w "Happy Home" [re-release of Flair 1069] (Kent 331)
  • 1960 "The Sky Is Crying" b/w "Held My Baby Last Night" (Fire 1016)
  • 1960 "I Can't Hold Out" b/w "The Sun Is Shining" (Chess 1756)
  • 1960 "Rollin' And Tumblin'" b/w "I'm Worried" (Fire 1024)
  • 1960 "Knocking At Your Door" b/w "Calling All Blues" [by Earl Hooker/Junior Wells] (Chief 7020)
  • 1960 "Done Somebody Wrong" b/w "Fine Little Mama" (Fire 1031)
  • 1961 "Look On Yonder Wall" b/w "Shake Your Moneymaker" (Fire 504)
  • 1962 "Stranger Blues" b/w "Anna Lee" (Fire 1503)
  • 1962/3? "The Sky Is Crying" b/w "Held My Baby Last Night" [re-release of Fire 1016] (Down Home 775/6)
  • 1964 "Dust My Blues" b/w "Happy Home" [re-release of Kent 331] (Kent 394)
  • 1964 "Dust My Blues" b/w "Happy Home" [re-release of Kent 394] (Sue 335)
  • 1965 "Bleeding Heart" b/w "It Hurts Me Too" (Enjoy 2015 [1st pressing])
  • 1965 "It Hurts Me Too" b/w "Pickin' The Blues" (Enjoy 2015 [2nd pressing])
  • 1965 "My Bleeding Heart" b/w "One Way Out" (Sphere Sound 702])
  • 1965 "It Hurts Me Too" b/w "Bleeding Heart" (Sue 383)
  • 1965 "Bleeding Heart" b/w "Mean Mistreatin' Mama" (Enjoy 2020)
  • 1965 "Knocking At Your Door" b/w "Calling All Blues" [re-release of Chief 7020] (Sue 392)
  • 1965 "Look On Yonder Wall" b/w "Shake Your Moneymaker" (Enjoy 2022)
  • 1965 "The Sky Is Crying" [re-release] b/w "Standing At The Crossroads" [alt. take] (Flashback 15)
  • 1965 "Standing At The Crossroads" b/w "Sunnyland" [re-release of Flair 1057] (Kent 433)
  • 1965 "Everyday I Have The Blues" b/w "Dust My Broom [# 4]" (Enjoy 2027)
  • 1965 "Cry For Me Baby" b/w "Take Me Where You Go" [re-release of Chief 7006] (U.S.A. 815)
  • 1965/6? "Cry For Me" b/w "Take Me Where You Go" [re-release of Chief 7006] (S&M 101)
  • 1966 "Shake Your Money Maker" b/w "I Need You" (Sphere Sound 708)

[edit] Albums

  • Blues After Hours (Crown 5168, 1961)
  • The Best Of (Sue 918 [UK], 1965)
  • The Sky Is Crying (Sphere Sound 7002, 1965)
  • Memorial Album (Sue 927 [UK], 1965)
  • The Blues In My Heart, The Rhythm In My Soul (re-release of Blues After Hours) (United 716, 1966)
  • The Blues In My Heart, The Rhythm In My Soul (re-release of Blues After Hours) (Custom 2054, 1966)
  • Original Folk Blues (Kent 522, 1967)
  • I Need You (Sphere Sound 7008, 1967)
  • The Late Fantastically Great (re-release of Blues After Hours) (Ember 3397 [UK], 1968)
  • Tough (Chess recordings plus tracks by John Brim) (Blue Horizon 7-63204 [UK], 1968)
  • Something Inside of Me (Bell 104, 1968)
  • The Legend Of Elmore James (Kent 9001, 1969)
  • Elmore James (Bell 6037, 1969)
  • Whose Muddy Shoes (plus tracks by John Brim) (Chess 1537, 1969)
  • The Resurrection Of Elmore James (Kent 9010, 1969)
  • To Know A Man [2LP] (Blue Horizon 7-66230 [UK], 1969)
  • King of the Slide Guitar (1992)
  • Charly Blues Masterworks Volume 28: Standing at the Crossroad (1993)
  • The Sky Is Crying: The History Of Elmore James (1993)
  • Rollin' And Tumblin' (1999)
  • Legends Of Blues, Pickin' The Blues ; The Greatest Hits (2002)
  • King of the Slide Guitar: The Complete Trumpet, Chief and Fire Sessions (2005)
  • A Proper Records Introduction to Elmore James: Slide Guitar Master (2006)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Franz, Steve. The Amazing Secret History of Elmore James. Bluesource Publications, 2003, ISBN 0971803811
  2. ^ "Meteor Records". http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/meteor.html. Retrieved on 2006-11-06. 
  3. ^ Bromberg liner notes to the compilation The Legend Of Elmore James (Kent Records 9001).
  4. ^ Egan, Sean. The Making Of Are You Experienced. A Capella Books, 2002, p. 14
  5. ^ Guitar Player Magazine, 1983
  6. ^ http://www.epitonic.com/index.jsp?refer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epitonic.com%2Fartists%2F68comeback.html
  7. ^ a b "Canton To Honor Blues Legend with Mississippi Blues Trail Marker". 209.85.215.104. http://209.85.215.104/search?q=cache:ZENEvC1KN90J:www.visitmississippi.org/press_news/CantonBluesMarker.pdf+%22Hickory+Street%22+%2B+Mississippi&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us. Retrieved on 2008-05-28. 

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmore_James"
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