Clifton James (musician)

Clifton James (born October 2 or October 7, 1936 in Chicago , Illinois , † February 16, 2006 there ) was an American blues musician who played drums.

Life

Clifton James was one of half a dozen basic drummers in Chicago. For sixteen years, from 1954 to 1970, his name is closely linked to Bo Diddley 's, and thus also to the "Bo Diddley Beat". He also played on several recordings of Chess Records by Sonny Boy Williamson II. , Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy .

Clifton James also brought the blues to new audiences when interest in this music waned in the United States in the mid-1960s. As a member of the Chicago Blues Allstars, which were put together by Willie Dixon, he toured Europe, the United States and Canada. He can also be heard as a member of the band on Sonny Williamson's European recordings, which combined Chicago blues artists with parts of the English Yardbirds . James also occasionally sang with various all-star casts.

In 2016, Rolling Stone listed James as 30th of the 100 best drummers of all time .

Discography

As a guest musician 1957: Blow the Back off It Billy Boy Arnold 1964: Folk Singer Muddy Waters 1966: Going to Chicago Billy Boy Arnold 1967: More Real Folk Blues Sonny Boy Williamson II 1968: Last Night's Dream Johnny Shines 1969: Koko Taylor Koko Taylor 1969: Midnight Jump Sunnyland Slim 1972: This Is My Story Sonny Boy Williamson II 1974: Chicago 63 Willie Mabon 1976: Chicago Golden Years Sonny Boy Williamson II 1977: King of the Jungle Eddie C. Campbell 1977: What It Takes: The Chess Years Koko Taylor 197 ?: Don't Make a Mistake Sonny Boy Williamson II 1979: Got to Use Your Head Buddy Guy 197 ?: Willie Dixon's Peace? Willie Dixon 1985: Willie Dixon: Live (Backstage Access) Willie Dixon 1997: American Folk Blues Festival '62 -'65: Highlights 2006: Howlin 'the Blues Howlin' Wolf 2006: Spoonful of Blues Willie Dixon / Johnny Winter 2007: American Folk Blues Festivals 1963-1966: The British

With Bo Diddley 1958: Bo Diddley 1959: Go Bo Diddley 1960: Have Guitar Will Travel 1960: Bo Diddley in the Spotlight 1960: Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger 1961: Bo Diddley Is a Lover 1962: Bo Diddley's a Twister 1962: Bo Diddley 1962: Bo Diddley & Company 1963: Surfin 'with Bo Diddley 1963: Bo Diddley's Beach Party 1964: Bo Diddley's 16 All-Time Greatest Hits 1964: Two Great Guitars (with Chuck Berry) 1965: Hey Good Lookin ' 1965: 500% More Man 1966: The Originator 1967: Super Blues (with Muddy Waters & Little Walter) 1967: Super Super Blues Band (+ Muddy Waters & Howlin 'Wolf) 1970: The Black Gladiator 1990: Chess Box Bo Diddley 1993: Bo's Blues Bo Diddley 2006: Bo's the Man Bo Diddley 2007: Definitive Collection Bo Diddley Drums 2007: I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 Bo Diddley

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b c} biography on Allmusic by Eugene Chadbourne
2. ↑ 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. Rolling Stone , March 31, 2016, accessed August 6, 2017 .