From: Flippar Date: Sat Jan 26, 2002 8:35 pm Subject: Born To Be With You -Elmore James ELMORE JAMES Elmore James, born on January 27th 1918 in Richland Mississippi. Died May 24 1963 Chicago Illegitimate son of a 15-year-old mother Elmore grew up on a plantation. To ease this life of poverty he made a primitive guitar outof broom wire strung up on the shack, before making a better 3 stringed instrument. He began playing local dances in his teens and developed a lifel ong love for blues and moonshine! His pal Robert Johnson made him a disciple of bottleneck blues and intense vocals. He also played with one Rice Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson 2) before serving in the US navy during WW2. Played with Rice again on the legendary King Biscuit radio show after the war. He played on many sessions including most memorably TV Mama by Big Joe Turner. His slide guitar 45s like I Believe, Dust My Blues(Broom), Sky Is Crying, It Hurts Me Too and Shake Your Moneymaker were highly regarded and very influential, particularly on the 60s blues boom scene in both the US and UK. Health problems and a lack of urgency (he was in his early 30s when hefirst tasted success) lead to a sporadic career spread over many years and labels (Trumpet/Meteor/Chess/Fire etc) until his death in May 1963 at the home of his cousin Homesick James, who along with J B Hutto and Hound Dog Taylor carried on that memorable slide guitar style. Recommended listening Sue lps Best Of, Memorial Album Blue Horizon 2lp To Know A Man Ace lp/cd King Of Slide Guitar Let`s Cut It A plethora of cheapo greatest hits cds There are 2 box sets to check out Ace - Classic Early recordings 51-56 (Meteor) 3cd and fine booklet Charly -King Of The Slide Guitar 4cd and booklet (Complete Chess, Chief and Fire)