TRANSCRIPT:
I'm Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
James "Jimmy" Witherspoon was a jump blues singer who began recording with Jay McShann's band. In 1949, "Ain't Nobody's Business" hit the charts and became his signature tune.
In the 1950s, as rock 'n' roll gained popularity, Witherspoon struggled to find gigs, faced financial troubles due to a dishonest manager, and declared bankruptcy. However, he made a successful comeback following a remarkable performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the release of "How Long Will It Take to Be a Man." He collaborated with prominent jazz musicians such as Ben Webster and Buck Clayton during this time.
Even after a battle with throat cancer in the early 1980s that affected his voice, Witherspoon's dedication remained unwavering. He spent years relearning to sing, earning a Grammy nomination in 1996 for "What a Wonderful World."
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.