Biography
James John Witherspoon, known affectionately as 'Spoon,' was born in Gurdon, Arkansas, on August 8, 1920 (though some sources cite 1921 or 1923 due to inconsistent documentation). He grew up in a devoutly religious Baptist family, where his mother served as church pianist and his father worked as a Missouri Pacific Railroad brakeman. Despite his mother's disapproval of blues music, which she considered 'dirty,' young Witherspoon was drawn to secular music heard on jukeboxes and radio. He joined the church choir around age five and demonstrated early musical talent by winning a Clark County singing contest as a child. His ambition to become a professional singer developed in his youth, leading him to move to Los Angeles in the late 1930s, where he worked washing dishes at a local drugstore while pursuing his musical dreams.
Witherspoon's professional career took shape during World War II when he enlisted in the merchant marine, serving as a cook and gaining valuable musical experience performing with Teddy Weatherford's band at the Grand Hotel in Calcutta, India, where they made regular broadcasts over the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service. After the war, he settled in the San Francisco Bay Area and caught the attention of pianist Jay McShann, joining his band in 1946 after impressing McShann at the Casino Ballroom in Vallejo, California. Witherspoon remained with McShann's ensemble for three years, recording dozens of 78s for labels including Philo, Mercury, and Swing Time. His breakthrough came in 1949 with 'Ain't Nobody's Business' (also known as 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness if I Do'), which spent an extraordinary 34 weeks on the Billboard rhythm and blues charts and became his signature tune. The song, originally popularized by Bessie Smith in 1923, showcased Witherspoon's distinctive vocal style—a versatile instrument that could be as smooth as single-malt Scotch or adopt a rasping, erotic timbre depending on the song's demands.
Throughout his half-century career, Witherspoon became one of the most prominent blues shouters of the 1940s and 1950s, earning respect from both jazz and R&B audiences. His baritone voice and deliciously delayed phrasing made him a favorite among jazz instrumentalists, and he recorded in diverse musical settings with jazz, soul, and rock musicians while always delivering authentic blues. Beyond 'Ain't Nobody's Business,' he achieved additional hits including 'No Rollin' Blues,' 'Big Fine Girl,' 'Failing by Degrees,' and 'New Orleans Woman.' His compositions like 'Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough' became blues classics. Witherspoon died on September 18, 1997, in Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy as a versatile artist equally at home in blues, jazz, and rhythm and blues genres.
Fun Facts
- Witherspoon may have run away from home to Los Angeles as early as 1935, at approximately age 14-15, to pursue his musical ambitions despite his mother's strong objections to blues music.
- During World War II, Witherspoon served as a cook in the merchant marine and was stationed in Calcutta, India, where he performed with Teddy Weatherford's band on U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service broadcasts—gaining international exposure during wartime.
- His signature hit 'Ain't Nobody's Business' was originally recorded in 1947 but didn't achieve massive chart success until 1949, when it spent an incredible 34 weeks on the Billboard rhythm and blues charts, making it one of the most successful blues records of that era.
- Witherspoon's birth year remains somewhat uncertain due to inconsistent documentation across sources; he gave his age as 74 in a 1996 interview, which corresponds to an 1921-1922 birth year, though various sources list 1920 or 1923.
Associated Acts
- Jimmy Witherspoon & His Gal Friday - eponymous, original
- Jimmy Witherspoon Blues Band - eponymous, original
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Joe Turner - Blues shouter idol who inspired Witherspoon; Witherspoon saw Turner perform in Duke Ellington's musical 'Jump for Joy' at the Mayan Theater in 1941 ('Wee Baby Blues' (which Witherspoon later performed)) [1941 onwards]
- T-Bone Walker - Pioneering electric blues guitarist who encouraged the fledgling singer by inviting him to sit in with his band in Los Angeles (Band performances and sessions) [Early 1940s]
- Teddy Weatherford - Expatriate pianist who led the band at the Grand Hotel in Calcutta, India where Witherspoon performed during World War II service (U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service broadcasts from Calcutta) [1942-1945]
Key Collaborators
- Jay McShann - Kansas City bandleader and pianist who became Witherspoon's primary collaborator; McShann discovered Witherspoon in Vallejo and featured him as band vocalist (First recordings (1945-1946) for Philo and Mercury; 'Ain't Nobody's Business' (1949) for Supreme Records; dozens of 78s) [1946-1949 and beyond]
- Gene Gilbeaux Orchestra - Ensemble that backed Witherspoon on several recordings including live performances ('No Rollin' Blues,' 'Big Fine Girl,' 'Failing by Degrees,' 'New Orleans Woman' (recorded May 10, 1949)) [1949-1950]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Baby, Baby, Baby | 1990-01-01 | Album |
| Singin' The Blues | 1959-12-17 | Album |
| Evenin' Blues | 1993-01-01 | Album |
| The Blues Is Now | 1967-01-01 | Album |
| Blues Around The Clock (Remastered) | 1995-01-01 | Album |
| Jump Blues Live 1972 | 2025-09-26 | Album |
| Spoon in Australia | 1980 | Album |
| Call My Baby | 1991-02-12 | Album |
| Jimmy Witherspoon | 2011-10-18 | Album |
| Blue Spoon/Spoon In London | 2001-01-01 | Album |
| Jimmy Witherspoon & Robben Ford (Live at The Ash Grove, 1976) | 1976-01-01 | Album |
| Black & White Blues | 1976-01-01 | Album |
| New Orleans Blues | 2019-07-24 | Album |
| Jay McShann Meets Jimmy Witherspoon | 2009-06-22 | Album |
| Jimmy Witherspoon at the Renaissance - Live | 1960-07-06 | Album |
Top Tracks
- One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer (Baby, Baby, Baby)
- Sail On Little Girl (Baby, Baby, Baby)
- When The Lights Go Out (Singin' The Blues)
- Evenin' (Evenin' Blues)
- Spoon's Blues (Singin' The Blues)
- 'Tain't Nobody's Business (Singin' The Blues)
- I Had A Dream (Blues Around The Clock (Remastered))
- Rocks In My Bed (Baby, Baby, Baby)
- Ain't Nobody's Business - Live (Spoon in Australia)
- Money's Gettin' Cheaper (Evenin' Blues)
External Links
Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #blues
References
Heard on WWOZ
jimmy witherspoon has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2025 | 21:39 | LOTUS BLOSSOM | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. | |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 21:48 | one scotch one bourbon one beer | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 08:15 | Glide Onfrom With The Duke Robillard Band | The Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges |