Most of you probably don’t know who he was, but the man was a legend, one of the greatest blues harp players ever.
I heard him play at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in the early '80s. Mind blowing stuff. I mostly remember walking out listening to 20,000 people humming the last song he played.
Welcome to heaven, James. Here’s your harp.
OK, 2017, don’t you start with the same shit that 2016 did.
Saw him a handful of times at festivals and small clubs. He never disappointed, always had a first rate band behind him. His work on Hard Again with Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter was outstanding. Here, have a listen.
I had thought he was of the same generation as Muddy Waters or Howlin’ Wolf and was a bit surprised that he died today, and now I see that he was only born in 1935. He must’ve started very young to do all that great work for Chess. Great player anyway.
I discovered him through my treasured vinyl copy of the Vanguard collection The Best of the Chicago Blues. Great musician.
And have another while you’re at it. Includes my favorite Johnny Winter solo, btw.
Just had to second what a great compilation that is!
I love me some blues harp and I definitely knew of Mr. Cotton. The band in heaven just keeps getting better and better.
Hard Again was my gateway drug to the blues.
I was fortunate enough to see James Cotton in 1985. He was awesome.
He opened a festival in 1973 here in Phoenix. I’ve been a fan ever since.
Thirded…has that excellent cut of Otis Spann doing “Mule Kicking In My Stall”…Cotton’s “Rocket 88” is great on that too.
RIP, Mr. Cotton…I only got to see you once (unfortunately past your prime) and you still put on a heck of a show.