Elmore James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elmore James
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Elmore Brooks |
| Born | January 27, 1918 Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | May 24, 1963 (aged 45) Chicago |
| Genres | Blues |
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| Years active | 1940s–1963 |
Elmore James (born Elmore Brooks; January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963) was an amazing American blues musician. He was a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader. People knew him for his powerful voice and how he used loud amplifiers for his guitar. He was so good at playing slide guitar that he was called the "King of the Slide Guitar." In 1992, he was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Contents
Elmore James's Early Life and Music
Elmore James was born Elmore Brooks on January 27, 1918, in Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi. His mother was Leola Brooks. He started playing music when he was just 12 years old. He used a simple one-string instrument called a diddley bow, which was often just a string stretched on a wall.
As a teenager, he played at dances. He sometimes used the names Cleanhead or Joe Willie James. Elmore James was inspired by other blues musicians like Robert Johnson, Kokomo Arnold, and Tampa Red. He even recorded some of Tampa Red's songs.
Music Career and Famous Songs
During World War II, Elmore James joined the U.S. Navy. He was promoted to a coxswain and took part in the invasion of Guam. After the war, he returned to Mississippi.
He began recording music in January 1951 with Trumpet Records. His first big song as a leader was "Dust My Broom" in August 1951. It became a surprise hit in 1952. His band members became known as the Broomdusters.
Later, he signed with the Bihari brothers' record labels. His song "I Believe" became a hit a year later. Throughout the 1950s, he recorded for several labels, including Flair Records, Meteor Records, Modern Records, Chess Records, and Chief Records. He also played lead guitar on Big Joe Turner's hit song "TV Mama" in 1954.
In 1959, he started recording for Fire Records. This label released some of his most famous songs. These included "The Sky Is Crying", "My Bleeding Heart", "Stranger Blues", "Look on Yonder Wall", "Done Somebody Wrong", and "Shake Your Moneymaker".
Legacy and Influence
Elmore James passed away from a heart attack in Chicago on May 24, 1963. He was about to go on a tour in Europe. He was buried in the Newport Baptist Church Cemetery in Ebenezer, Mississippi.
In 1992, Elmore James was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was recognized as an "Early Influence" because of how much he shaped music. In 2012, he was honored with a special marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in Ebenezer.
Elmore James had a huge impact on many other guitar players. Blues guitarists like Homesick James, Hound Dog Taylor, and J. B. Hutto were influenced by his slide guitar style. Even famous rock guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Jeremy Spencer, and Frank Zappa said he inspired them.
Discography
Selected Singles
- "Dust My Broom" (1951 & 1965)
- "I Believe" (1953)
- "Standing at the Crossroads" (1954 & 1965)
- "Dust My Blues" (1955)
- "It Hurts Me Too" (1957 & 1965)
- "The Sky Is Crying" (1960)
- "I Can't Hold Out" (1960)
- "Rollin' and Tumblin'" (1960)
- "Shake Your Moneymaker" (1961)
- "Look on Yonder Wall" (1961)
- "Bleeding Heart" (1965)
- "One Way Out" (1965)
- "Every Day I Have the Blues" (1965)
Selected Compilation Albums
- Blues After Hours (1960)
- Whose Muddy Shoes (1969) (with John Brim)
- Street Talkin' (1975)
- King of the Slide Guitar (1992)
- The Classic Early Recordings: 1951–1956 (1993)
- The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James (1993)
- Golden Hits (1996)
See also
In Spanish: Elmore James para niños
