Jimmy Nelson (singer)

James Nelson^[2] (April 7, 1919 – July 29, 2007),^[3] known as Jimmy "T99" Nelson, was an American jump blues and rhythm and blues shouter and songwriter.^[1] With a recording career that spanned over 50 years, Jimmy "T99" Nelson became a distinguished elder statesman of American music. His best known recordings are "T-99 Blues" and "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On". Nelson notably worked with Duke Robillard and Otis Grand.^[3]

Jimmy Nelson
Nelson at the Long Beach Blues Festival, 1996
Background information
Birth name	James Nelson
Also known as	Jimmy "T99" Nelson
Born	(1919-04-07)April 7, 1919 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	July 29, 2007(2007-07-29) (aged 88) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Jump blues, rhythm and blues,[1] swing
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1948–2007
Labels	Olliet Records RPM Records Kent Records Chess Records Music City Records Paradise Records All Boy Records Bullseye Blues & Jazz Nettie Marie Records Ace

Career

Nelson got his start singing in church. In 1941, he saw a performance by Big Joe Turner while he was visiting Oakland, California,^[4] and realized he wanted to sing the blues.^[5] Turner taught Nelson about singing, performance and the music business. Nelson, in turn, absorbed the shouting style of his mentor.^[4]

From 1951 through 1961, Jimmy Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio released eight singles with the Bihari Brothers' Modern/RPM label.^[4] The biggest of these was "T-99 Blues" (which referred to the old Texas Highway #99), which debuted in June 1951.^[4] It stayed on the US Billboard R&B chart for twenty-one weeks and reached number 1. In 1952, Nelson had another RPM hit with "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On".^[4]

Nelson began touring, performing with bands led by Joe Liggins and Roy Milton, and playing venues including the Apollo and Howard theaters. He cut singles for a number of labels including Kent, Music City, Paradise and All Boy, and Chess (including for them the 1955 "Free and Easy Mind").^[4]

From 1955 to 1975, Nelson took a job working construction, though he continued to write songs and sit in with bands.^[4]

In the 1980s, Nelson came to the wider attention of blues fans when Ace issued ten of his sides on an album. Sweet Sugar Daddy a compilation album from the Japanese P-Vine Records, which mainly consisted of unreleased studio recordings from the 1960s and 1970s, was also released in 1988.^[6]

Nelson resumed touring and in 1999, released a comeback album Rockin' and Shoutin' the Blues from the Bullseye Blues & Jazz label.^[6] This album was nominated in two categories of the W.C. Handy Awards the following year.^[7] Two more newly recorded albums followed on his own Nettie Marie label prior to his death, both featuring an all-star back-up band including Duke Robillard. In 2004, Ace released Cry Hard Luck, featuring re-issues of Nelson's Kent and RPM recordings from 1951-1961.^[6]

Personal life

In 1955, Nelson married Nettie (who has since died) and adopted Houston, Texas as his hometown.

Nelson died of cancer at a nursing home in Houston on July 29, 2007.^[8]

Discography

Singles

• 1951: "T 99 Blues" (RPM 325) as Jimmie Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio
• 1953: "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On" (RPM 385)
• 1955: "Free and Easy Mind" (Chess 1587)
• 1956: "The Wheel" (Music City 797)
• 1960: "Unlock the Lock" (Kent 354)
• 1962: "What Was I Supposed To Do' (All Boy 8502)
• 1963: "Tell Me Who" (Paradise 1002; Chess 1877)^[9]
• 1965: "I'll Be Ready" (Paradise 1012)

Albums

• 1999: Rockin' and Shoutin' the Blues (Bullseye Blues 9593) feat. Doug James, Rich Lataille, Clarence Hollimon
• 2002: Take Your Pick (Nettie Marie 001)
• 2005: The Legend (Nettie Marie 002)^[6]

Compilation albums

• 1981: Jimmy "Mr. T 99" Nelson (Ace 10CH 35) [10" LP]
• 1987: Watch That Action (Ace CHD 228)
• 1988: Sweet Sugar Daddy (P-Vine)
• 2003: Cry Hard Luck: The RPM and Kent Recordings 1951-61 (Ace CDCHD 976)^[6]