Blues
United States
Elmore James
More albums from Elmore James
![Listen to The Best of the Modern Years (1952-1956) [Remastered] by Elmore James](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music6/v4/aa/50/8f/aa508f9b-bd18-edd0-309a-4e09081ab4eb/00724386471154.jpg/1380x1380bb.webp "Listen to The Best of the Modern Years (1952-1956) [Remastered] by Elmore James")
About Elmore James
Hometown
Richland, MS, United States
Born
January 27, 1918
Genre
Blues
Blues-rock pioneer Elmore James made a big splash over a short career. Born Elmore Brooks in Richland, Mississippi, in 1918, he began playing a one-stringed guitar at age 12. During the '30s, under the influence of Kokomo Arnold, Tampa Red, and Robert Johnson, he formed the hard-charging Broomdusters band, performing alongside Sonny Boy Williamson both before and after James’ stints in the U.S. Navy. In 1951, on his first date as a session leader, James reimagined Johnson's languid acoustic "Dust My Broom" as a loud, upbeat electric shuffle, and its attention-grabbing opening riff heralded James's 11-year reign as "king of the slide guitar." His equally powerful voice—on signature tracks like "Shake Your Moneymaker," the Jimi Hendrix favorite "Bleeding Heart," and the future Allman Brothers Band staple "One Way Out"—anticipated the screaming passion of Chicago blues singers Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. James' career stalled when he ran afoul of the musicians' union; he died of a heart attack in 1963 on the verge of a comeback.
Elmore James has also released music as a member of Elmore James & His Broomdusters.
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