Died On This Date (April 10, 2013) Jimmy Dawkins / Chicago Blues Great
themusicsover Jimmy Dawkins
October 24, 1936 – April 10, 2013
Jimmy Dawkins was a Chicago blues great who earned the somewhat ironic nickname of “Fast Fingers” in that his performances were generally more deliberate and less flashy than that name might convey. Think Eric Clapton. Born about 75 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, Dawkins moved to Chicago in 1955 and began gigging around town while establishing himself as an in-demand session player. In 1969, he signed with Delmark Records who released his critically acclaimed debut album, Fast Fingers. His follow-up, All For Business, featured Otis Rush on second guitar. Over the course of his career, Dawkins released over 20 albums. He also wrote a column for Living Blues magazine. During the ’80s, Dawkins started his own label, Leric Records. As a sideman, he can be heard on recordings by the likes of Buddy Guy, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Luther Allison, Sleepy John Estes, and Earl Hooker. Jimmy Dawkins was 76 when he passed away on April 10, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
What You Should Own
Paul deLay was a Portland, Oregon blues treasure. Over a career that he launched during the early ’70s, deLay dazzled blues fans throughout the western United States and beyond. After starting out in a band called Brown Sugar, deLay formed the Paul deLay Blues Band in 1976. During the early ’90s, he spent a few years in prison on drug related charges, but that didn’t stop the music. He shined as part of the Walla Walla prison band until he was released and able to re-join his own band who had forged on without him as the No deLay Band. DeLay released several albums throughout his long career, with his 2007 effort, Last Of The Best hitting the Top 10 of the Billboard blues chart. He also received a 
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