Wild Jimmy Spruill facts for kids

James Edgar Spruill (born June 9, 1934 – died February 3, 1996) was a super talented American guitarist. People often called him "Wild Jimmy Spruill." He lived in New York City and was a "session musician." This means he played guitar on many songs for other famous singers and bands. His amazing guitar solos helped make many rhythm and blues (R&B) and pop songs big hits in the 1950s and 1960s.

About Jimmy Spruill

Early Life and Musical Start

Jimmy Spruill was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the United States. His family worked on farms, sharing their crops. As a child, he loved listening to both country music and blues.

He started playing guitar very early. His first guitar was made from a cigar box with an elastic band! After a few years, he got a real electric guitar, a Fender Telecaster. Later, he even played a Gibson Les Paul guitar. He was known for changing his Gibson Les Paul by sawing off most of its body.

Becoming a Session Star

In 1955, Jimmy moved to New York City. There, he began working as a session musician. This job meant he played guitar for many different recording artists. He didn't usually perform as the main artist himself.

He worked a lot with record producers Danny and Bobby Robinson. They ran several record labels like Fire and Fury Records. Their main office was at Bobby Robinson's "Happy House of Hits" record store in Harlem. Jimmy also played for other New York labels. He recorded with famous artists like King Curtis, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and The Shirelles. He even released some songs under his own name.

Big Hits with Jimmy's Guitar

Jimmy Spruill's guitar playing was on many top songs. In May 1959, "The Happy Organ" by Dave "Baby" Cortez became a number one pop song. The very next week, Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City" also hit number one. Jimmy's guitar solos were on both of these huge hits!

Another famous song he played on was "Fannie Mae" by Buster Brown. This song reached the top of the R&B charts in early 1960. In 1961, he played on Bobby Lewis's number one hit, "Tossin' and Turnin'." Around the same time, he was also on The Shirelles' song "Dedicated to the One I Love," which reached number three.

Jimmy was a great showman. He was known for playing his guitar with his teeth! His guitar sound was unique. It was powerful and free, moving from strong lead parts to cool, scratching rhythms. One of his interesting solo songs was "Hard Grind." Other solo songs included "Cut and Dried" and "Scratchin' Twist."

Later Years and Passing

In the mid-1960s, Jimmy Spruill formed a music group. It was a trio with singer Tommy Knight and drummer Popsy Dixon. In the 1970s and 1980s, he worked as an interior decorator in New York City. He still played music gigs when he could. He even toured in Europe with other musicians.

Jimmy Spruill passed away in February 1996. He was 61 years old. He had a heart attack while traveling on a bus. He was coming back from Florida, where he had visited his family.

Jimmy Spruill's Musical Legacy

Jimmy Spruill's amazing guitar work can be found on many music collections. These are called "compilation albums." They bring together songs from different artists. Some albums featuring his work include:

• Great R&B Instrumentals (featuring "Hard Grind")
• N.Y. Wild Guitars (a Japanese collection)
• Scratch 'n Twist: Rare And Unissued New York Rhythm And Blues 1956-1962
• Scratchin’ • The Wild Jimmy Spruill Story (released in 2014)