At 71 years old, Mississippi-born harmonica legend James Cotton carries the kind of resume few musicians would dream of.
Orphaned by the time he was 9, Cotton learned his blues chops by living with harp-virtuoso Sonny Boy Williamson and observing Williamson’s jam parties with other local musicians.
“I watched everything, and in the end, I wanted to be just like Sonny Boy,” Cotton tells Public Broadcasting Service during part of their “American Roots Music” series.
Cotton moved on to Memphis, eventually garnering the attention of record executive Sam Phillips. At the tender age of 15, Cotton cut his first track for Sun Records, “Cotton Crop Blues.”
After two years of playing Memphis street corners and working odd jobs to make ends meet, Cotton got his big break following a Friday night set at the Dinette Lounge. After the set, blues guitarist Muddy Waters recruited the young harp player into his touring band. Four years and many gigs later, Cotton became Waters’ primary harmonica player. His talents were featured during concerts and Waters’ Chess Records studio albums.
By 1966, Cotton left Waters’ band to pursue a solo career. As the harmonica player and lead vocalist for the James Cotton Blues Band, Cotton was now the center of attention. His back-up band mixed traditional blues sounds with elements of rock and soul, while Cotton supplied charismatic vocals and searing harmonica solos.
The James Cotton Blues Band quickly gained favor with the ’60s crowd that had previously welcomed Cotton as part of Muddy Waters’ band. As a result, Cotton scored concert billings with psychedelic-rock groups such as The Doors, Janis Joplin, Cream and Jefferson Airplane.
Like his mentor Sonny Boy and former band leader Waters, Cotton approached the rock and roll community without losing touch with his blues roots. He lent his harp to sets with Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King, as well as the Grateful Dead and Steve Miller.
The James Cotton Blues Band expanded on their funky blues sound into the ’70s and ’80s, releasing several critically acclaimed studio and live albums.
In 1996, James Cotton won his first (and only) Grammy Award in the traditional blues category for his album Deep in the Blues.
Though Cotton’s vocals have worn thinner and raspier over the years, his harp solos remain masterful and inspired. As an elder statesman of the blues, any time Mr. Superharp blows through town, he deserves to be heard.
James Cotton will appear with his blues band tonight at 9 p.m. at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia. Tickets are $19.
– By Zachary Herrmann
