1. Jimmy McCracklin joined the United States Navy in 1938, later settled in Richmond, California, and began playing at the local Club Savoy owned by his sister-in-law Willie Mae "Granny" Johnson.
12 Facts About Jimmy McCracklin
1. 2.
Jimmy McCracklin's recorded a debut single for Globe Records, "Miss Mattie Left Me", in 1945, and "Street Loafin' Woman" in 1946.
3.
Jimmy McCracklin formed a group called Jimmy McCracklin and his Blues Blasters in 1946, with guitarist Robert Kelton, later replaced by Lafayette Thomas who remained with the group until the early 1960s.
4.
Jimmy McCracklin's popularity increased after appearing on American Bandstand in support of his self-written single "The Walk", subsequently released by Checker Records in 1958.
5.
Jimmy McCracklin booked blues acts such as T-Bone Walker, Irma Thomas, Big Joe Turner, Big Mama Thornton, and Etta James.
6.
Oakland Blues was an album arranged and directed by Jimmy McCracklin, and produced by World Pacific.
7.
The California rock-n-roll "roots music" band The Blasters named themselves after Jimmy McCracklin's backing band The Blues Blasters.
8.
Jimmy McCracklin continued to tour and produce new albums in the 1980s and 1990s.
9.
Jimmy McCracklin played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1973,1977,1980,1981,1984 and 2007.
10.
Jimmy McCracklin was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1990, and the Living Legend and Hall of Fame award at the Bay Area Black Music Awards, in 2007.
11.
Jimmy McCracklin continued to write, record, and perform into the 21st century.
12.
Jimmy McCracklin died in San Pablo, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, on December 20,2012, after a long illness, aged 91.