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Listen to Elmore James, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

Elmore James

Blues

View Artist

Top Songs By Elmore James

Listen to Dust My Broom by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
Dust My BroomElmore James
Listen to Done Somebody Wrong by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
Done Somebody WrongElmore James
Listen to The Sky Is Crying by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
The Sky Is CryingElmore James
Listen to It Hurts Me Too by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
It Hurts Me TooElmore James
Listen to Shake Your Money Maker by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
Shake Your Money MakerElmore James
Listen to Something Inside of Me by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
Something Inside of MeElmore James
Listen to The Sun Is Shining by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
The Sun Is ShiningElmore James
Listen to Look On Yonder Wall by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
Look On Yonder WallElmore James
Listen to Dust My Blues by Elmore James and the Broom Dusters, see lyrics, music video & more!
Dust My BluesElmore James and the Broom Dusters
Listen to Sho' Nuff I Do by Elmore James, see lyrics, music video & more!
Sho' Nuff I DoElmore James

More albums from Elmore James

Listen to The Best of the Modern Years (1952-1956) [Remastered] by Elmore James
ALBUMThe Best of the Modern Years (1952-1956) [Remastered]Elmore James
Listen to Elmore James (Blues Kingpins) by Elmore James
ALBUMElmore James (Blues Kingpins)Elmore James
Listen to Shake Your Money Maker: The Best of the Fire Sessions (1960-1961) by Elmore James
ALBUMShake Your Money Maker: The Best of the Fire Sessions (1960-1961)Elmore James
Listen to Let's Cut It: The Very Best of Elmore James by Elmore James
ALBUMLet's Cut It: The Very Best of Elmore JamesElmore James
Listen to Street Talkin' (Chief Records 1957-1960) by Elmore James
ALBUMStreet Talkin' (Chief Records 1957-1960)Elmore James
Listen to All Them Blues by Elmore James
ALBUMAll Them BluesElmore James
Listen to Whose Muddy Shoes by Elmore James & John Brim
ALBUMWhose Muddy ShoesElmore James & John Brim
Listen to Blues After Hours by Elmore James and the Broom Dusters
ALBUMBlues After HoursElmore James and the Broom Dusters

Artist Playlists

Elmore James Essentials
Elmore James Essentials
Meet the man who wrote the book on blues slide guitar.
Elmore James Essentials

About Elmore James

Listen to Elmore James, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
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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