James Cotton

James Cotton (July 1, 1935 - March 16, 2017) is an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter, who has performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time, as well as with his band.  Born in Tunica, Mississippi, Cotton became interested in music when he first heard Sonny Boy Williamson II on the radio. He left home with his uncle and moved to West Helena, Arkansas, finding Williamson there. Although he played drums early in his career, Cotton is famous for his work on the harmonica.

Cotton began his professional career playing the blues harp in  Howlin' Wolf's band in the early 1950s.  Cotton began to work with the Muddy Waters Band around 1955.  Cotton's first recording session with Waters took place in June 1957, and he would alternate with Little Walter on Muddy's recording sessions until the end of the decade, and thereafter until he left to form his band

In 1965 he formed the Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet, utilizing Otis Spann on piano to record between gigs with Muddy Waters' band. After leaving Muddy's band in 1966, Cotton toured with Janis Joplin while pursuing a solo career.  In the 1970s, Cotton played harmonica on Muddy Waters' Grammy-winning 1977 album "Hard Again", produced by Johnny Winter.

The James Cotton Blues Band received a Grammy nomination in 1984 for "Live From Chicago: Mr. Superharp Himself!", and a second for his 1987 release, "Take Me Back". He finally was awarded a Grammy for "Deep in the Blues" in 1996 for Best Traditional Blues Album.

Cotton battled throat cancer in the mid-1990s, and his last recorded vocal performance was on the 2000's "Fire Down Under the Hill", but he continues to tour, utilizing singers or his backing band members as vocalists.

Cotton died of pneumonia on March 16, 2017, at the age of 81, at a medical center in Austin, Texas, and was buried on July 11, 2017 in Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

(James Cotton at Riverfront Blues Festival, Wilmington, Delaware)