James Nelson[2] (April 7, 1919 – July 29, 2007),[3] known as Jimmy "T99" Nelson, was an American jump blues and rhythm and blues shouter and songwriter.[1] With a recording career that spanned over 50 years, Jimmy "T99" Nelson became a distinguished elder statesman of American music. His best known recordings are "T-99 Blues" and "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On". Nelson notably worked with Duke Robillard and Otis Grand.[3]
Jimmy Nelson | |
|---|---|
 Nelson at the Long Beach Blues Festival, 1996 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Nelson |
| Also known as | Jimmy "T99" Nelson |
| Born | April 7, 1919 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 2007 (aged 88) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Jump blues, rhythm and blues,[1] swing |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1948–2007 |
| Labels | Olliet Records RPM Records Kent Records Chess Records Music City Records Paradise Records All Boy Records Bullseye Blues & Jazz Nettie Marie Records Ace |
Career edit
Nelson got his start singing in church. In 1941, he saw a performance by Big Joe Turner while he was visiting Oakland, California,[4] and realized he wanted to sing the blues.[5] Turner taught Nelson about singing, performance and the music business. Nelson, in turn, absorbed the shouting style of his mentor.[4]
From 1951 through 1961, Jimmy Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio released eight singles with the Bihari Brothers' Modern/RPM label.[4] The biggest of these was "T-99 Blues" (which referred to the old Texas Highway #99), which debuted in June 1951.[4] It stayed on the US Billboard R&B chart for twenty-one weeks and reached number 1. In 1952, Nelson had another RPM hit with "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On".[4]
Nelson began touring, performing with bands led by Joe Liggins and Roy Milton, and playing venues including the Apollo and Howard theaters. He cut singles for a number of labels including Kent, Music City, Paradise and All Boy, and Chess (including for them the 1955 "Free and Easy Mind").[4]
From 1955 to 1975, Nelson took a job working construction, though he continued to write songs and sit in with bands.[4]
In the 1980s, Nelson came to the wider attention of blues fans when Ace issued ten of his sides on an album. Sweet Sugar Daddy a compilation album from the Japanese P-Vine Records, which mainly consisted of unreleased studio recordings from the 1960s and 1970s, was also released in 1988.[6]
Nelson resumed touring and in 1999, released a comeback album Rockin' and Shoutin' the Blues from the Bullseye Blues & Jazz label.[6] This album was nominated in two categories of the W.C. Handy Awards the following year.[7] Two more newly recorded albums followed on his own Nettie Marie label prior to his death, both featuring an all-star back-up band including Duke Robillard. In 2004, Ace released Cry Hard Luck, featuring re-issues of Nelson's Kent and RPM recordings from 1951-1961.[6]
Personal life edit
In 1955, Nelson married Nettie (who has since died) and adopted Houston, Texas as his hometown.
Nelson died of cancer at a nursing home in Houston on July 29, 2007.[8]
Discography edit
Singles edit
- 1951: "T-99 Blues" (with the Peter Rabbit Trio)
- 1952: "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On" (RPM Records)
- 1963: "Tell Me Who" (Paradise 1002, Chess 1877)[9]
Albums edit
- 1987: Watch That Action (Ace, CHD228)
- 1999: Rockin' and Shoutin' the Blues (Bullseye Blues & Jazz, 793985) (feat. Doug James, Rich Lataille and Clarence Hollimon)
- 2002: Take Your Pick (Nettie Marie)
- 2005: The Legend (Nettie Marie)[6]
Compilation albums edit
- 1981: Jimmy "Mr. T99" Nelson (Ace)
- 1988: Sweet Sugar Daddy (P-Vine)
- 2003: Cry Hard Luck: The RPM and Kent Recordings 1951-61 (Ace)[6]
References edit
- ^ a b Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 334. ISBN 978-0313344237.
- ^ a b Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 278/280. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
- ^ Liner notes to "Rockin' and Shoutin' the Blues by Roger Wood
- ^ a b c d e "Jimmy Nelson | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ [1] Archived April 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Jimmy Nelson - Tell Me Who (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2015-10-05.