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.
Goin0 To Kansas City
Jimmy Witherspoon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
They got a crazy way of loving there
And I'm gonna get me some.
I'll be standing on the corner
On the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine
I'm gonna be standing on the corner
With my Kansas City baby
And a bottle of Kansas City wine.
Well I might take a train
I might take a plane, but if I have to walk
I'm gonna get there just the same
I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
They got a crazy way of loving there
And I'm gonna get me some.
I'm gonna pack my clothes
Leave at the break of dawn
I'm gonna pack my clothes
Everybody will be sleeping
Nobody will know where I've gone
Cause if I stay in town
I know I'm gonna die.
Gotta find a friendly city
And that's the reason why,
I'm going to Kansas City
Kansas City here I come
They got a crazy way of loving there
And I'm gonna get me some.
The lyrics to Jimmy Witherspoon's "Going to Kansas City" tell the story of a man who is ready to leave his town and head to Kansas City for a change of pace and to find love. The repeated refrain, "Kansas City here I come", creates a sense of excitement and anticipation for the singer's upcoming journey. He describes the city as having a "crazy way of loving", which hints at the potential for passion and excitement in his romantic pursuits.
The verse about standing on the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine creates a vivid image of the city and its bustling streets. The mention of a bottle of wine suggests that the singer plans to kick back and enjoy himself in the company of his new love interest. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get there, whether it's taking a train or plane, or even walking if necessary.
The final verse reveals that the singer is leaving his town behind because he feels like he needs to find a new place to live before he dies. He acknowledges that he needs to find a city where he can feel at home and build a new life. The overall message of the song is one of hope and excitement for the potential of Kansas City to offer the singer a fresh start and a chance at love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
I am heading to Kansas City with great excitement and enthusiasm.
They got a crazy way of loving there
And I'm gonna get me some.
The people in Kansas City have a unique way of expressing their love and I am excited to experience it for myself.
I'll be standing on the corner
On the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine
I'm gonna be standing on the corner
On the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine
With my Kansas City baby
And a bottle of Kansas City wine.
I will be waiting on the street corner with my lover and a bottle of wine to enjoy the sights and sounds of Kansas City.
Well I might take a train
I might take a plane, but if I have to walk
I'm gonna get there just the same
I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
I am determined to reach Kansas City, even if I have to travel by foot, to experience the uniqueness of the city.
I'm gonna pack my clothes
Leave at the break of dawn
I'm gonna pack my clothes
Everybody will be sleeping
Nobody will know where I've gone
Cause if I stay in town
I know I'm gonna die.
Gotta find a friendly city
And that's the reason why,
I'm going to Kansas City
Kansas City here I come
I am leaving town secretly to find a more welcoming city and Kansas City is where I hope to find it, to escape a life threatening situation.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacksonconley5117
AFC Standings Predictions in 2023:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (16-1)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (13-4)
3. Buffalo Bills (12-5)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-7)
5. New York Jets (11-6)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
7. Miami Dolphins (10-7)
NFC Standings Prediction:
Philadelphia Eagles (13-4)
San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
Detroit Lions (10-7)
New Orleans Saints (8-9)
Seattle Seahawks (11-6)
Dallas Cowboys (11-6)
New York Giants (10-7)
@kred792
2023-4 Season Prediction:
NFC:
1. Eagles 13-4
2. Niners 12-5
3. Lions 11-6
4. Saints 10-7
5. Cowboys 11-6
6. Seahawks 9-8
7. Vikings 9-8
AFC:
1. Chiefs 15-2
2. Bills 14-3
3. Jaguars 12-5
4. Ravens 12-5
5. Bengals 12-5
6. Patriots 10-7
7. Chargers 9-8
SWCR:
(2) Niners 45-13 Vikings (7)
(3) Lions 17-12 Seahawks (6)
(5) Cowboys 21-10 Saints (4)
(2) Bills 38-27 Chargers (7)
(6) Patriots 24-23 Jaguars (3)
(4) Ravens 21-19 Bengals (5)
DIVR:
(1) Eagles 28-17 Cowboys (5)
(2) Niners 21-17 Lions (3)
(1) Chiefs 35-31 Patriots (6)
(2) Bills 31-30 Ravens (4)
CONFG:
(2) Niners 33-31 Eagles (1)
(2) Bills 31-28 Chiefs (1)
SBLVIII:
Niners 30-24 Bills
@DrSamwpepper
Nope. It will be:
1-6 start
"Fore everyone,tomlin is a fraud"
improve to 6-7
We actually better than the record states,cry haters we winning the super bowl"
end 9-8,miss playoffs or get demolished in WC
"we'll be back next year don't sleep on Us"
And the cycle repeats,because the steelers are to stubborn to tank.
@BlueLucario98
I love that suddenly having a 40 year old QB makes the Jets better favorites over the Dolphins. And this is coming from a Bills fan.
@inferno519
fr
@gavinrussell6270
People don't actually think that they just want people to bet on the jets and they wanna make more odds are Hella misleading
@lucassnow2959
I agree, the Jets aren't going to automatically going to be one of the best teams in the NFL just because they traded for Rodgers. The AFC East will still be between the Bills and Dolphins while the Jets finish 3rd
@matthewhowie1220
People are assuming because it worked for the Bucs and Rams,it's going to work again😒
@caesar_19
because that 40 year old is Aaron Rodgers
@Manganimemer
Are we all sure we don’t wanna predict the Chiefs to take a step back this year 😂😂
@sakthithanigai5036
I mean if I call it every year at some point I’ll be right and be looked at as a genius lmao
@pickletickle5144
I want it that way, but winning SB after being doubted, it might not happen anymore. I want the people to feel the karma of going against the Chiefs again. It's nice to be that quiet fan who then makes you eat your words.
@Relayer6a
@Pickle Tickle I was super impressed with what the Chiefs did last year. Especially since they did take a step back talent wise but Mahomes did what a truly great QB does and lifted the team around him. All these teams who have decided to pay their QBs like they're Patrick Mahomes are going to find out that they should have let them go.