LOS ANGELES (AP) - Blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon, a Grammy
nominee whose trademark was his deep, smoky voice, has died at the
age of 74.
Witherspoon died Thursday of natural causes, Claudine Ratcliffe,
a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County coroner's office, said
Saturday. No other details were available, she said.
``Spoon,'' as he was known, recorded dozens of albums and
fronted both small bands and large orchestras. His career included
tours in Europe, performances for prison inmates and appearances at
such influential venues as the Monterey Jazz Festival.
His hits included ``Blues Around the Clock,'' ``Some of My Best
Friends are the Blues,'' and ``Blue Spoon.''
While traveling the world as a merchant seaman during World War
II, he had an opportunity to sing with the big band of Teddy
Weatherford, who encouraged him to pursue a music career.
Beginning in 1944, he appeared in the music clubs of Los
Angeles, and got a big break when he was invited to join Jay
McShann's band in Vallejo.
In 1949, Witherspoon's first single, ``Ain't Nobody's
Business,'' reached No. 1 on rhythm and blues record charts.
His career slowed with the advent of rock 'n' roll but he made a
comeback performance at the 1959 Monterey Jazz Festival and over
the next decade recorded with Earl Hines and other jazz greats,
made European tours and regularly visited prisons to perform for
inmates.
He toured with guitarist Robben Ford and appeared at blues and
jazz festivals until he had to undergo surgery for throat cancer in
the mid 1980s.
He rejoined Ford in the early 1990s. Their ``Live at the Mint''
album was nominated for the 1995 Grammy Award for best traditional
blues album.
AP-NY-09-20-97 1729EDT Copyright 1997 The Associated Press.
E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com
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