Died On This Date (December 20, 2012) Jimmy McCracklin / West Coast Blues Great
themusicsover Jimmy McCracklin
August 13, 1921 – December 20, 2012
Over a career that spanned almost 70 years, Jimmy McCracklin made some of the finest jump blues to ever come out of California. Born in the south, McCracklin settled just outside of San Francisco after serving in the Navy during WWII. Influenced by blues piano great, Walter Davis, he cut his first record, “Miss Mattie Left Me,” for Globe Records in 1948. In 1957, he released what has become his signature song, “The Walk,” whose re-release by Checker Records a year later reached #7 on the Billboard pop chart while cracking the top 5 on the R&B chart. Its popularity also earned him a slot on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. As a songwriter, McCracklin is credited with “Stomp,” which became hits for Lowell Fulson, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, and Salt-n-Pepa. Over his long and prolific career, he wrote 1000s of songs, made 100s of records, released 30 albums (four of them gold), and played with the likes of B.B. King and Charles Brown. Obviously an influence on many, a couple of notables who have sourced McCracklin as a favorite are Bob Dylan and Phil Alvin of the Blasters. Jimmy McCracklin performed, wrote and recorded well into the 2000s and ultimately passed away on December 20, 2012. He was 91.
Thanks to Kevin Walsh for the assist.
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