Archives and Special Collections Exhibits
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Creation Date
2-23-2022
Description
Born in Helena, Arkansas, James David Walker, Jr., better known as Jimmy McCracklin, settled in California. He fused jump blues piano stylings with R&B and soul, where his sound helped set the tone of West Coast Blues, despite his claim, “There’s no West Coast blues, no Arkansas blues, no Southern blues. Blues is a feeling. Blues is the blues.”
Performing into his late eighties, McCracklin wrote hundreds of songs over his long career. His most famous song, “The Walk” (1958) was a hit in the pop and R&B charts. His songs became hits for other artists as well; “The Tramp” nearly topped the R&B charts for Lowell Fulson and later for Carla Thomas and Otis Redding.
Exhibit includes promotional materials, selected photos, and recordings from the Blues Archive.
Featured recordings:
- My Story / Jimmy McCracklin
- I'm gonna tell your mother / Jimmie McCracklin
- I don't care / Jimmy McCracklin and his Orchestra
- Jimmy McCracklin: A Taste of the Blues (West Coast Blues Summit)
- Blast 'em Dead! / Jimmy McCracklin
- Come on home / Jimmy McCracklin
- Drown in my own tears / Jimmy McCracklin
- Same Lovin' / Jimmy McCracklin Blasting the Blues / Jimmy McCracklin
- I'm Gonna Have My Fun / Jimmy McCracklin
- Everybody Rock: The Best of Jimmy McCracklin
- You Deceived Me: Jimmy McCracklin Sings the Blues
- Oakland Blues / Jimmy McCracklin
Relational Format
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