This week: Cotton earned his ‘Superharp’ name
Published 11:59 am Thursday, January 22, 2009
The phrase “living legend” fits James Cotton like the harmonicas that have spent years in his hands.
This is the 65th year that Cotton has created sounds that earned him the “Superharp” nickname, a place in the Blues Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian Institute, many W.C. Handy Blues Awards, a Grammy and Grammy nominations, and Downbeat Magazine awards.
He performs Sunday at Northshore Performing Arts Center.
The Mississippi-born Cotton grew up with his family working in the cotton fields. A Christmas gift of a 15-cent harmonica led to taking a musical road out of those fields.
He was too young to play with his uncle at the juke joints so he played on the outside steps and collected tips. As a teen-ager on the streets, he heard Howlin’ Wolf and soon started playing with him. By age 15, Cotton had recorded four songs with now-legendary Sun Records, including “Cotton Crop Blues.”
He played with Muddy Water for a dozen years. After that, the showman (he included back flips in some shows) kept playing and his reputation kept growing. He’s performed with B.B. King, the Allman Brothers, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt and many more.
Jonathan Coulter: The Yale graduate, former computer programmer and singer-songwriter wrote a song a week in 2005-06 and gave all away on a podcast project.
The Internet sensation, a self-proclaimed geek often thinking about robots and fractals, won the 2007 Game Audio Network Guild’s Song of the Year award for “Still Alive,” used in the Game of the Year in 2007: Portal.
Al Di Meola: Guitar Player Magazine has given Di Meola more awards than any other guitarist. Early in his career, “Land of the Midnight Sun” and “Elegant Gypsy” were two of the highest-selling albums of any instrumentalist then playing. He’s recorded with many of the top musicians and is still exploring his guitar’s boundaries.
Lil Wayne: The rapper must be smiling, pocketing eight nominations, the highest total (Coldplay had seven) for the 51st annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8. That includes a nod for the coveted album of the year award, “Tha Carter III.” The CD’s single “Lollipop” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a first for Lil Wayne.
Blind Pilot, 3 Legged Torso: Due to flooding over I-5 during the winter storms, the Portland bands’ show was rescheduled. Blind Pilot’s been hitting on all cylinders lately, with its single, “Go On, Say It,” earning an iTunes’ Single of the Week and one of Starbucks’ January’s Pick of the Week.
The modern chamber-pop wonder 3 Leg Torso, a duo that started as street performers, delivers passion and precision. 3 Leg Torso has been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and at a Mozart festival.
Out and about: Etta James is still bringing it: blues, gospel, jazz, soul, R&B and a little rock ‘n roll. She’s in the Rock&Roll, Blues and Grammy halls of fame (Wednesday, Paramount) … Once a Snohomish County resident, guitarist Omar Torrez has followed his fast fingers and love of many musical genres around the world (Saturday, Triple Door) … Top-notch jazz guitarist Frank Vignola has been a sideman for Madonna, Leon Redbone and Ringo Star (Tuesday and Wednesday, Jazz Alley) …
Katy Perry’s debut album, “One of the Boys,” hit the Top 10 Billboard debut album chart and has led to pop hits and a sold-out show in Seattle (tonight, Showbox at the Market) … Three-time Grammy-winner Bruce Hornsby also has a sold-out concert (Saturday, Skagit Valley Casino).
