Elmore James

Elmore James (January 27, 1918 - May 24, 1963) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He was born Elmore Brooks in Richland, Mississippi, just south of Jackson, and began playing as a teen under the names Cleanhead and Joe Willie James.

At this time, he played with traveling musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf and Robert Johnson. During World War 2, James joined the Navy and was stationed in Guam.

Upon his release, he began recording with Trumpet Records in Jackson, starting with his signature song, "Dust My Broom". It was a surprise R&B hit in 1952 and turned James into a star. His "I Believe" was another hit a year later. During the '50s he recorded for the Bihari Brothers' Flair and Modern labels, as well as for Chess Records. His backing musicians were known as The Broomdusters. In 1959 he began recording what are perhaps his best sides for Bobby Robinson's Fire label. These include "The Sky Is Crying" (credited to "Elmo James and His Broomdusters"), "Stranger Blues," "Look On Yonder Wall," "Done Somebody Wrong" and "Shake Your Moneymaker," all of which are among the most famous of blues recordings.

The slide guitar riff from "Dust My Broom" is one of the best-known openings in all of blues. It was even transformed into a doo-wop chorus on Jesse Stone's "Down in the Alley", recorded by The Clovers and Elvis Presley. Stone transcribed the riff as:

"Changety changety changety changety chang chang!" []

He died in 1963, already a major influence on guitarists such as the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones.