Many of the performers at the early concerts were the pioneers and originators of the west coast blues sound. For a brief period in the early 1970s mccracklin ran the continental club in san francisco. Although he was arguably best known for playing in blues legend john lee hooker s band in the 1970s, he worked with many other alltime greats, including lowell fulson, jimmy mccracklin, james. Louis and his main influence would be walter davis, the popular recording artist. Documentary brings west oaklands musical legacy to light. Bay area blues harmonica great mark hummel, a longtime friend and collaborator of thompsons recalls that the guitarist was part of hummels 20 touring tribute to jimmy reed, along with. He formed a group called jimmy mccracklin and his blues blasters in 1946, with guitarist robert kelton, later replaced by lafayette thomas who remained with the group until the early 1960s. Writing in living blues magazine in july 1977, tom mazzolini, director of the san francisco blues festival said, unquestionably the finest guitarist to emerge from the san franciscooakland blues scene, there is hardly a guitarist around here today who doesnt owe a little something to lafayette thomas. Lafayette thing thomas was installed as the searing guitarist with mccracklins blues blasters and remained invaluable to the pianist into the early 60s. A house band composed of bay area based musicians alternated with and. The singer guitarist, based in san francisco, was in her mid30s when she discovered the joys of the blues. His death was first reported by the san francisco chronicle. Jimmy mccracklin, a blues singer and pianist who by his count.
The singersongwriterpianist will be best remembered for the hit 1957. He formed a group called jimmy mccracklin and his blues blasters in 1946, with guitarist robert kelton, later replaced by. Though his music eventually reached a national audience, he was most identified with the west coast blues scene so much so that his obituary appeared on the front page of the san francisco chronicle on friday. Jimmy mac cracklin blends beautifully into the stax labels soulblues sound. Terence mcardle terence mcardle has been a working blues singer guitarist for 40. He sang in a local church choir as a youth, and was first introduced to blues guitar by his uncle, musician jesse babyface thomas. A full halfcentury from when he started out in the blues business, jimmy mccracklin was still touring, recording, and acting like a much younger man. Jimmy mccracklin, a fixture on the san francisco blues scene for over six decades passed away, thursday, june 20, 2012 at the age of 91.
Over a career that spanned seven decades, he said he had written almost a thousand songs and had recorded hundreds of them. Jimmy mccracklin biography jimmy mccracklin james david walker, st. Jimmy mccracklin august, 1921 december 20, 2012 was an american pianist, vocalist. Mccracklin recorded the walk with his own band in chicago, where he. These days, he has a special place in the hearts of those who collect soulblues records, especially those from the start of his career, upon which this compilation focuses. A west coast native, he was born in san francisco, lived in santa cruz logging lots of time at moes alley and performedtoured with many other bay area blues notables including andy santana and the chrome addicts. Louis, missouri was a pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. Hire ron thompson blues band in san francisco, california. San franciscan local pat wilder has spent the past 30 years working as guitarist in a series of funk, rock, and blues bands around the bay area, including stints with keyboardist billy dunn and singers curtis lawson, zakiya hooker, jimmy mccracklin, and luther tucker. Tom mazzolini of the san francisco blues festival said of him, he was probably the most. In 1962, mccracklin recorded just got to know for his own arttone label in oakland, after the record made no. Jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues 1996, cd discogs. Ron thompson is a legendary rhythm and blues guitarist and master keyboardist whose career began in the rough and tumble world of east san francisco bay nightclubs and bars in the early 70s.
Shipyard work more than doubled the citys population during world war ii and. Ron started a trio in 1980, the resistors, and won bammie awards in the blues categoryin the few years. Johnny cat soubrand has held the down the dual lead spot as guitarist recording and touring with terry hanck for twelve years. As a result of the collaboration with pianist mark naftalin on these festivals, they played together on many of naftalins blues revues. Mccracklin continued to tour and produce new albums in the 1980s and 1990s. Jimmy mccracklin august, 1921 december 20, 2012 was an american pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. Tom mazzolini, founder and producer of the san francisco blues festival, the longest running blues festival in the united states, said, ive always felt ron is the most talented blues guitarist i have ever seen. Jimmy mccracklin died december 20, 2012, in san pablo, california.
Mccracklin, who remained a major figure on the bay area blues scene, was called the face of oakland blues by san francisco blues festival founder tom mazzolini. Jimmy mccracklin was a renowned blues musician, singer, music industry. Lafayette thing thomas was installed as the searing guitarist with mccracklins blues blasters and remained invaluable to the pianist into. In fact, he vehemently disputed his commonly accepted read full biography. During 198689 goldwasser occupies the chair of guitarist and musical director in jimmy mccracklins band, before releasing his first album on belgiums. Jimmy lived in the bay area for decades and played the san francisco blues festival in 2007. He continued performing with a style and enthusiasm that would credit a man thirty years younger. In 1962, mccracklin recorded just got to know for his own arttone label in oakland. Debuting in 1973, the san francisco blues festival was one of the longest running blues festival in the united states. His real name was reportedly willie boyd or willie gitry.
Jimmy mccracklin, san francisco blues release by jimmy mccracklin see all versions of this release, 1 available. I just took the blues off and joe finally told me, thats jimmy mccracklins name, but you tell im i gave you permission to steal it. Jimmy mccracklin sings, his first solo album, was released in 1962, in the west. Mccracklin several times at his longrunning san francisco blues. Tom mazzolini, the events producer, founded the blues festival to educate the public about the history and evolution of the blues. He started out playing a steel guitar, he saved up for his first regular electric guitar by working at the. Jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues releases discogs.
He was brought up in richmond, california, and sang in vocal groups as a youngster. Over a career that spanned seven decades, he said he had written almost. Music and photos belong to their respective owners. By official proclamation of mayor gavin newsom, september 5, 2007, was declared ron thompson day in san francisco. Tom mazzolini of the san francisco blues festival said of him, he was probably the most important. He first emerged during the immediate postwar boom in independent recording in. Jimmy mccracklin was one of the leading and most versatile singer songwriters in the field of soulblues. Jimmy mccracklin, a blues singer and pianist who by his count composed nearly a thousand songs and recorded hundreds, including the 1950s hit the walk, died on thursday in san pablo, calif. For a brief period in the early 1970s jimmy mccracklin ran the continental club in san francisco. Mccrackln played at the san francisco blues festival in 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981. Jimmy mccracklin, west coast bluesman, died on december 20, 2012 after a career that spanned seven decades, having recorded over 30 albums with four gold records and written hundreds of songs including classics like tramp think, and every night, every day.
Jimmy mccracklin musician music database radio swiss. Jimmy mccracklin sings, his first solo album, was released in 1962, in the west coast blues style. One story that resonates with the filmmaker is that of 77yearold blues singer and guitarist sonny rhodes who performs at san franciscos biscuits and. Richmonds jimmy mccracklin, a toprank bluesman for many years. Louis, where mccracklin grew up, and mccracklins early records show him to. Jimmy mccracklin, a popular blues singer and pianist whose career spanned more than six decades and whose songs were recorded by such performers as. Jimmy mccracklin folsom prison blues unreleased youtube. Back in the 40s, when bluesman jimmy mccracklin first hit town after mustering out of the navy, richmond was booming. Jimmy 66 download on rapidshare search engine the blues collection 66 jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues part1, the blues collection 66 jimmy mccracklin san francisco blues part2. Thomas began his music career in 1947 after a move to san francisco, california, playing with al simmons rhythm rockers.
Ron thompson is a legendary rhythm and blues guitarist and master keyboardist whose career began in the rough and tumble world of east san francisco bay nightclubs and bars in the early 1970s. Bluesman jimmy mccracklin talks about his career in music at his home in. The blues singer and songwriter jimmy mccracklin, who has died aged. Mccracklins music spanned decades and eras of rhythm and blues, from uptempo jump blues of the 1940s to soul of the 1960s and 70s. For years, he was known for both his own presence and that of his band the blues blasters, whose name inspired phil alvin, who along with his brother dave was part of a. Mccracklin was best known for his 1958 dance hit, the walk. All images and music are ed to their respective owners. During many years of touring coast to coast with john lee hooker, hooker was quoted as saying, ron thompson, hes my main man. Jimmy mccracklin biography, albums, streaming links. Jimmy mccracklin, one of the most prolific blues singers and songwriters of all time, with a recording career that spanned 1945 to 2010, died thursday at creekside healthcare center in san pablo. Louis, missouri, august, 1921 san pablo, california, december 20, 2012 was an american pianist, vocalist, harmonica player and songwriter.
Type what you are looking for in the box bellow, hit search and download it from. He recorded much less in the 80s but appeared regularly at the san francisco blues festival and made several visits to europe, which reassured. Mccracklin several times at his longrunning san francisco blues festival. Thompson played at the san francisco blues festival in 1978, 1979 and 1983. The black population swelled in the 1940s, due to large manpower needs to work in the u. At a show at san franciscos victoria theater, goldwassers band backs up singer dottie ivory and california blues architect pee wee crayton on his very last san francisco performance. Jimmys style of jumpblues was very much in vogue as the post war euphoria and consumer boom got under way. Richmonds jimmy mccracklin, a toprank bluesman for many. In 2008, mazzolini announced that after 37 consecutive years, the festival was forced to cease production due to economic reasons. Jimmy mccracklin, one of the most prolific blues singers and. Today that band includes bay area monster guitarist johnny soubrand, longtime drummer butch cousins younger brother to robert cray bassist richard cousins, and bassist tim wagar, a stalwart of the san francisco blues scene and beyond lavern baker, james cotton, jimmy mccracklin, lowell fulson, and howard tate.
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