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.
The Masquerade Is Over
Jimmy Witherspoon Lyrics
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And the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine
I'm afraid the masquerade is over, oh yes
And so is love, and so is love
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci
And get myself a clown's disguise
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci
You look the same, girl you're a lot the same
But my heart says "no, no, you're not the same"
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, and so is love
In the lyrical content of "The Masquerade Is Over" by Jimmy Witherspoon, the singer describes the fading of a once vibrant and passionate love. The opening lines convey a sense of wistfulness and remorse as the singer notices that the spark in their partner's eyes has dimmed and the excitement that once accompanied their kisses has dissipated. The reference to the masquerade being over suggests that the illusion or facade surrounding the relationship has been shattered, revealing the harsh reality that their love has come to an end.
The subsequent verses delve deeper into the emotional turmoil experienced by the singer. The mention of playing the role of Pagliacci, a tragic clown from an opera, symbolizes the feeling of having to put on a brave face and hide one's true feelings behind a mask of theatrics. The line "And learn to laugh like Pagliacci with tears in my eyes" is particularly poignant, illustrating the inner conflict and dichotomy between outward appearance and inner sorrow the singer must now navigate.
Throughout the song, there is a juxtaposition between outward appearances and inner emotions. The singer acknowledges that, despite the physical resemblance of their partner, their heart tells them that things have fundamentally changed. This dichotomy reflects the complexity of human relationships and the bittersweet nature of realizing that love has faded away. The repeated refrain that the masquerade is over reinforces the idea that the pretense or illusion surrounding the relationship has been stripped away, leaving only the harsh truth of its demise.
In conclusion, "The Masquerade Is Over" captures the raw emotions of heartbreak and disillusionment in a relationship that has run its course. The lyrics portray a sense of resignation and acceptance of the inevitable end of love, as well as the internal struggle to maintain a façade of normalcy despite the overwhelming grief. By drawing on themes of deception, sorrow, and self-reflection, the song encapsulates the universal experience of coming to terms with the loss of a once cherished connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine
The spark and joy that used to be evident in your eyes has faded away.
And the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine
The excitement and passion that once existed when we kissed has disappeared.
I'm afraid the masquerade is over, oh yes
I can no longer pretend that everything is okay and the truth of our relationship has been revealed.
And so is love, and so is love
Our love has faded away along with the facade we have been maintaining.
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci
I must now put on a show and pretend to be happy, just like the character Pagliacci from the opera.
And get myself a clown's disguise
I will need to hide my true emotions behind a mask of humor and happiness.
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci
I must fake a smile and pretend to be light-hearted, despite the pain I feel inside.
With tears in my eyes
Despite my outward appearance of mirth, I am actually crying inside.
You look the same, girl you're a lot the same
Physically, you have not changed much, but emotionally, things are different.
But my heart says 'no, no, you're not the same'
Deep down, I know that our connection and love have changed for the worse.
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
I can no longer pretend that our relationship is genuine and full of love.
And so is love, and so is love
Our love has ended, just like the act we have been putting on for so long.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Allie Wrubel, Herbert Magidson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind