Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 - September 18, 1997) was an American blu… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 - September 18, 1997) was an American blues singer.
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.
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.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Jimmy Witherspoon Lyrics
'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
Ain't Misbehavin' No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Ain't Nobody's Biziness There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
All That's Good Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
Amazing Grace Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like…
And The Angels Sing We meet, and the angels sing The angels sing the sweetest…
Baby Baby Baby, baby, baby Love me, love me, do Love me, love me…
Baby How Long Baby, how long Baby how long Have that ev'nin train been gon…
Back To New Orleans This time I'm walkin' to New Orleans I'm walkin' to New…
Back Water Blues It rained 5 days and the clouds turned as dark…
Bad Bad Whiskey Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
Blue Monday Blue Monday, how I hate blue Monday Got me workin'…
Blues In The Morning Goin' to Chicago, sorry but I can't take you, Goin' to…
Blues In The Night My mama done tol' me, When I was in knee pants, My…
Blues In Trouble Trouble in mind, I'm blue But I won't be blue always, 'Cause…
C C Rider Well now see., C. C. Rider, well now see, see what…
Cane River I'm goin' back to Cane River, down Lou'siana way I'm goin'…
CC Rider Well now see., C. C. Rider, Well now see, see what…
Christmas Blues The jingle bells are jingling The streets are white with sno…
Corrina Corrina Corrine Corrina, where you been so long? Corrine Corrina, wh…
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me Do nothin' till you hear from me Pay no attention to…
Don Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock. Don't let go, Don't let…
Don't Come Back To Me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Don't Let Go Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock. Don't let go, Don't let…
Don't Worry 'Bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Drinking Beer Let's have a party an drink up a lot of…
Easy Living Living for you is easy living It's easy to live when…
Embraceable You Dozens of girls would storm up; I had to lock my…
Endless Sleep The night was black, rain fallin' down; Looked for my baby,…
Evenin' Evenin' Ev'ry night you come and you find me, oh Lord And…
Fool As I write this letter to you darlin' I can't hold…
Gee Baby What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Gee, Baby Ain't I Good to You What makes me treat you the way I do Gee, Baby…
Gloomy Sunday Sunday is gloomy, my hours are slumberless Dearest the shado…
Go Tell It On The Mountain Go, tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go…
Goin Goin' to Chicago, sorry but I can't take you, Goin' to…
Goin' Down Slow (speaks) Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and qu…
Goin' To Chicago Goin' to Chicago, sorry but I can't take you, Goin' to…
Goin' to Kansas City I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come I'm…
Goin0 To Kansas City I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come I'm…
Going to Chicago Goin' to Chicago, sorry but I can't take you, Goin' to…
Good Rockin Well, I heard the news There's good rockin' tonight. Well,…
Good Rockin' Tonight Well, I heard the news There's good rockin' tonight. Well, I…
Good Rocking Tonight Well, I heard the news There's good rockin' tonight. Well,…
Grab Me A Freight On the wall and on the ceiling, I see your…
His Eye Is On The Sparrow Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, …
How Long Baby, how long Baby how long Have that ev'nin train been gon…
I One scotch, one bourbon, one beer One scotch, one bourbon, o…
I Ain't Mad at You What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Love You Yes I Do I love you, yes I do, I want you, yes I…
I Never Will Marry Some say that love's a gentle thing But it only brought…
I Wanna Be Around I wanna be around to pick up the pieces When somebody…
I Want a Little Girl I want a little girl to call my own, Just a…
I'll always be in Love Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
I'll Never Be Free Each time I hold someone new My arms grow cold aching…
I'm Beginning To See The Light I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town I'm gonna move baby, way out on the outskirts of…
I'm Just a Country Boy I ain't gonna marry in the fall And I ain't gonna…
I've Been Treated Wrong I don't know my name I don't know when I was…
In the Evening Do you remember when this number first come out, man? Yeah,…
It It only happens once, I'll never feel that thrill again, It …
Jelly Jelly Hello baby, I had to call you on the phone Hello…
Just A Closer Walk With Thee I am weak but thou art strong, Jesus, keep me from…
Kansas City I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come I'm…
Key to the Highway I've got the key to the highway Yes, I'm billed out…
Let Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock. Don't let go, Don't let…
Lover Come Back To Me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Lovey Dovey Well, you're the cutest thing that I did ever see…
Mean Ol' Frisco Well that mean old dirty Frisco and that low down…
Money Is Getting Cheaper Well, money's gettin' cheaper, prices gettin' steeper Foun…
Money's Gettin' Cheaper Well, money's gettin' cheaper, prices gettin' steeper Found…
Money's Getting Cheaper Well, money's gettin' cheaper, prices gettin' steeper Foun…
Move Me Baby You got me runnin', you got me hidin' You got me…
New Orleans Woman This time I'm walkin' to New Orleans I'm walkin' to New…
No Rolling Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Nobody Knows You Once I lived the life of a millionaire Spendin' my money,…
One Last Chance We spend our lives groping for happiness I found it once…
One Scotch One scotch, one bourbon, one beer One scotch, one bourbon, o…
Outskirts of Town I'm gonna move baby, way out on the outskirts of…
P.S. I Love You I love you, yes I do, I want you, yes I…
Roll 'Em Pete Well, I got a gal, she lives up on the…
S K Blues Well, come to me, pretty baby Put your fine mellow body…
S..K. Blues Well, come to me, pretty baby Put your fine mellow body…
S.K. Blues Well, come to me, pretty baby Put your fine mellow body…
Sail On Little Girl You can mistreat me here But you can't when I go…
See See Rider Well now see., C. C. Rider, well now see, see what…
Sk Blues Well, come to me, pretty baby Put your fine mellow body…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down Well I…
Stormy Monday They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad They…
T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
That Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears …
The Masquerade Is Over Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Trouble in Mind Trouble in mind, I'm blue But I won't be blue always, 'Cause…
Two Little Girls You can mistreat me here But you can't when I go…
Who Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching fo…
Who Baby Who Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching fo…