Blues Harmonica Legend JAMES COTTON Dead at 81

17 March 2017

Blues harmonica legend JAMES COTTON has died after a bout of pneumonia. The 81-year-old earlier overcame a bout with throat cancer in the ’90s, before recording a final star-studded album that included Gregg Allman, Chuck Leavell and Warren Haynes.

In fact, Cotton always had plenty of rock connections. He served as an opening act for Janis Joplin early in his solo career. His initial album for Verve was produced by Michael Bloomfield; he signed with Paul Butterfield’s manager Albert Grossman, who also represented Bob Dylan, the Band and Joplin.

Over the years, Cotton would open for or sit in with LED ZEPPELIN, the GRATEFUL DEAD, KEITH RICHARDS, SANTANA, CREAM, LITTLE FEAT and STEVE MILLER.

He first rose to fame as a high-energy sideman for MUDDY WATERS during a 12-year stint into the ’60s, having made his initial recordings for Sun Records in 1953 at age 15.

“‘Cotton Crop Blues‘ was the first one on my own,” Cotton told PBS. “When I wrote that song I never thought I’d get a chance to record it. I had a radio show and [Sun Records owner Sam] Phillips called me up one day and said, ‘Would you like to do some recording?'”

Listen to JAMES COTTON Perform ‘Midnight Train’ With GREGG ALLMAN: