James "Jimmy" Cotton (July 1, 1935 – March 16, 2017), was an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. He was an orphan.
Career
Cotton first became interested in playing music when he heard Sonny Boy Williamson on the radio. He left his home to find Sonny Boy Williamson, and when he found him (in West Helena, Arkansas), Williamson took him in and raised him. Blues singer Bobby Bland was his half-brother.
First band
Cotton first began playing the blues harp in Williamson's band, called Howlin Wolf's. After one gig, Sonny Boy quit the band to live with his wife in Milwaukee. He left the band in Cotton's hands. Cotton said, "He just gave it to me. But I couldn't hold it together 'cause I was too young and crazy in those days an' everybody in the band was grown men, so much older than me."
Later career
Cotton started working with the Muddy Waters Band in 1955. He performed songs like "I Got My Mojo Working" and "She's Nineteen Years Old". After leaving Muddy's band in 1966, Cotton toured with Janis Joplin. Alone, Cotton wrote classic songs like "Cotton Crop Blues", "Rocket 88" and "Hold Me In Your Arms". He formed the James Cotton Blues Band in 1967. They performed all of Cotton's classics and more.
Death
Cotton died at a medical center in Austin, Texas from pneumonia on March 16, 2017 at the age of 81.
Awards
Cotton played harmonica on Muddy Water's Grammy Award winning 1977 album Hard Again. James Cotton's band would also get nominated for two Grammy Awards. The first one was for his 1984 release, Live From Chicago: Mr. Superharp Himself!. His second for Take Me Back.
Performances
Cotton played with the following people: Big Mama Thornton Janis Joplin Sonny Boy Williamson Howlin' Wolf Muddy Waters Led Zeppelin Freddie King Steve Miller Santana B.B. King The Grateful Dead Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Johnny Winter Jimmie Vaughan Todd Rundgren
Albums
Chicago/The Blues/Today! vol. 2
Take Me Back
3 Harp Boogie
Live from Chicago Mr. Superharp Himself High Compression 100% Cotton
Live & On the Move
Cut You Loose! Mighty Long Time Fire Down Under the Hill Baby, Don't You Tear My Cloths Deep in the Blues Living the Blues ''35th Anniversary Jam