James John (Jimmy) Witherspoon, also known by the nickname “Spoon”, was a versatile "blues shouter" who achieved commercial success and critical acclaim in the genres of blues, jazz, and rhythm and blues. His 1947 recording “Ain’t Nobody’s Business” was a hit in 1949 and became his signature song.
His date of birth is usually given as August 8, 1923, but some sources give the birth year as 1920, and more than one source gives the birth date as August 18, 1921, attributing the information to his son. Since he may have run away from home to Los Angeles, California, as early as 1935, the earlier dates seem more plausible. In a 1996 interview, he gave his age as seventy-four, which also corresponds with the 1921 date.
Jimmy Witherspoon was born in Gurdon (Clark County) Arkansas to Leonard Witherspoon, a Missouri Pacific Railroad brakeman, and Eva Tatum Witherspoon, a church pianist. The family was devoutly religious. His parents were members of the choir at their Baptist church.
He didn't pursue music professionally until after his stint in the Merchant Marines in World War II. On his return to the Unites States in 1944, he replaced Walter Brown in Jay McShann's band, and performed with Big Joe Turner and T-Bone Walker.
Witherpoon's first hit record was "Ain't Nobody's Business", which he followed in 1949 with a reworking of the Leroy Carr song "In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down". His hit "Ain't Nobody's Business" was one of the biggest records of the era, and stayed on the Billboard charts for 34 weeks. Spoon made at least 200 recordings, and was one of the few true giants of the post-war blues boom.
Witherspoon recorded for a variety of labels through the 1950s, including cornerstone sides with Swingtime, Federal, Chess, RCA, and even a Dixieland session with The Wilbur de Paris New Orleans Jazz Band for Atlantic in 1956. His long career included performances on jazz stages around the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Newport Jazz Festival, touring Japan with Count Basie, and European tours with Buck Clayton's All Stars. Witherspoon managed to span the worlds of blues, R&B, and jazz with his deep baritone voice and unique style.
Witherspoon died September 18, 1997 in Los Angeles, California.
Spoon first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during World War II. Witherspoon made his first records with Jay McShann's band in 1945. In 1949, recording under his own name with the McShann band, he had his first hit, "Ain't Nobody's Business,"[2] a song which came to be regarded as his signature tune. In 1950 he had hits with two more songs closely identified with him: "No Rollin' Blues", "Big Fine Girl", as well as "Failing By Degrees" and "New Orleans Woman" recorded with the Gene Gilbeaux Orchestra which included Herman Washington and Don Hill on the Modern Records label. These were recorded from a live performance on May 10, 1949 at a "Just Jazz" concert Pasadena, CA sponsored by Gene Norman. Another classic Witherspoon composition is "Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough".
Witherspoon's style of blues - that of the "blues shouter" - became unfashionable in the mid-1950s, but he returned to popularity with his 1959 album, Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival, which featured Roy Eldridge, Woody Herman, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines and Mel Lewis, among others. He later recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Leroy Vinnegar, Richard "Groove" Holmes and T-Bone Walker.
Tours and successes
In 1961 he toured Europe with Buck Clayton and returned to the UK on many occasions, featuring on a mid-sixties live UK recording Spoon Sings and Swings (1966) with tenor sax player Dick Morrissey's quartet. In 1970, he appeared on Brother Jack McDuff's London Blue Note recording To Seek a New Home together with British jazz musicians, including Dick Morrissey, again, and Terry Smith. In the 1970s he also recorded the album Guilty! (later released on CD as Black & White Blues) with Eric Burdon and featuring Ike White & the San Quentin Prison Band. He then toured with a band of his own featuring Robben Ford and Russ Ferrante. A recording from this period, Spoonful, featured 'Spoon accompanied by Robben Ford, Joe Sample, Cornell Dupree, Thad Jones and Bernard Purdie. He continued performing and recording into the 1990s.
Other performers with whom Witherspoon recorded include Jimmy Rowles, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Vernon Alley, Mel Lewis, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wiggins, John Clayton, Paul Humphrey, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jimmy Smith, Long John Baldry, Junior Mance, Ellington bassist Jimmy Woode, Kenny Clarke, Gerry Mulligan, Jim Mullen, Count Basie, Van Morrison, Dutch Swing College Band, Gene Gilbeaux and others.
Acting
In the 1995 film Georgia, Witherspoon portrayed a traveling, gun-collecting blues singer, Trucker, who has a relationship with the troubled character Sadie, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Jimmy Witherspoon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior's birth
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
In "Go Tell It on the Mountain," Jimmy Witherspoon urges his listeners to share the good news of Jesus Christ's birth with the world. He uses the imagery from the biblical account of the shepherds who witnessed the holy light and heard the angels' chorus announcing the birth of the Savior. The lyrics instruct us to tell this message everywhere, over hills, and through every possible path.
Jimmy Witherspoon has also included references to the manger - "Down in a lowly manger, the humble Christ was born" - which highlights the humble circumstances in which our Savior was born. Witherspoon emphasizes the importance of spreading the good news, as its impact and beauty are intended for everyone to witness. The message is simple, while the song also emphasizes the wonder and fear that the shepherds felt when they were first introduced to this miraculous occurrence.
Overall, "Go Tell It on the Mountain" is an uplifting song that emphasizes the importance of spreading the joy and beauty of Christ's birth. The song serves as a reminder that acts of love and kindness can connect us all and help us to find meaning in the season.
Line by Line Meaning
Go, tell it on the mountain
Spread the good news of Jesus' birth far and wide
Over the hills and everywhere
No location is too remote to share the news of Christ's birth.
That Jesus Christ is born
Announce that the savior of humanity is finally born.
While shepherds kept their watching
During the time that the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks at night.
Over silent flocks by night
Whilst the peaceful sheep were sleeping at night.
Behold throughout the heavens
Take note of the heavens above.
There shone a holy light
A divine luminousness appeared in the sky.
The shepherds feared and trembled
The shepherds felt fear and agitation in the presence of the angels.
When lo! above the earth
Suddenly in the sky.
Rang out the angels chorus
The angels sang a song of praise.
That hailed the Savior's birth
The song was to honor the savior's arrival.
Down in a lowly manger
Jesus was born in a simple and humble place.
The humble Christ was born
Jesus, the messiah, was born into poverty and simplicity.
And God sent us salvation
On that sacred day, God sent us Jesus to save us.
That blessed Christmas morn
On the morning of Jesus' birth, God's blessings were upon us all.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONNIE SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@demun42
Things I wish I could unsee. Like wasting my time watching this video.
@xxboonisbadfortnitexx1549
Lol
@xxboonisbadfortnitexx1549
Yep
@snoitseuqpi1119
I haven't watched it but I think I agree.
@danwendt4292
Sad you will never have a woman and you can have your green onesie and wish that your mom asks you what's for dinner
@Watchful12
Heavily censored rubbish with annoying American commentary
@rlathbury
My father's company made the grill in that scene in "The Seven Year Itch." He recognized it! I am proud to be the son of the only man in America who paused that scene in order to see the grating.
@fannybuster
He should have been under that grill and looked up..
@hilarietesch1363
😂