1. James Witherspoon was an American jump blues and jazz singer.
11 Facts About Jimmy Witherspoon
1. 2.
Jimmy Witherspoon's father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, and his mother was a piano player.
3.
Jimmy Witherspoon's grandson Ahkello Jimmy Witherspoon is a cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams.
4.
Jimmy Witherspoon first attracted attention singing in Calcutta, India, with Teddy Weatherford's band, which made regular radio broadcasts over the US Armed Forces Radio Service during World War II.
5.
Jimmy Witherspoon performed at four of the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts held in Los Angeles at Wrigley Field, which were produced by Leon Hefflin Sr.
6.
Jimmy Witherspoon has a strong, clear voice and diction that you would hear in the classics.
7.
Jimmy Witherspoon returned for the seventh Cavalcade of Jazz concert on July 8,1951, and performed alongside Billy Eckstine, Lionel Hampton and his Revue, Percy Mayfield, Joe Liggins's Honeydrippers, and Roy Brown.
8.
Jimmy Witherspoon later recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Leroy Vinnegar, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and T-Bone Walker.
9.
Jimmy Witherspoon then toured with a band of his own featuring Robben Ford and Russ Ferrante.
10.
Jimmy Witherspoon played Nate Williams in The Black Godfather and Percy in To Sleep with Anger.
11.
Jimmy Witherspoon died of throat cancer on September 18,1997, in Los Angeles, California.