James Wheeler

Blues guitarist James Wheeler was born in Albany, GA, on August 28, 1937. His earliest musical influences were the big bands of the time, especially <a href="spotify:artist:2aAHdB5HweT3mFcRzm0swc">Glenn Miller</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a>, and his first idol, <a href="spotify:artist:2nRbxpnBMMbtMBWH5QdqH2">Louis Jordan</a>. Following his older brother Golden, <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a> moved to Chicago in 1956. Golden had started playing harmonica in the clubs, becoming friends with many blues musicians, including <a href="spotify:artist:22JuR9OeENcP54XN5TlNWS">Little Walter</a>. It was after the move to Chicago that James Wheeler picked up the guitar and started jamming with local musicians. <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a>'s first big break came when he played guitar with <a href="spotify:artist:16vIA3JDwbJiQugWKimd2o">Billy Boy Arnold</a>, which lead to the formation of the Jaguars in 1963, backing up <a href="spotify:artist:5xLSa7l4IV1gsQfhAMvl0U">B.B. King</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:27XI002zivG9xuzrZ9dIb1">Millie Jackson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2eRG04xbRiI1AzY8uTCySk">O.V. Wright</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2jV8AcZ8W3TfiqInUGWwlL">Otis Clay</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:1KrDd8tfcITeBIHGXXIx4s">Clay</a> was so impressed with <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a>'s playing that after the Jaguars broke up in 1972 he asked <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a> to put together his touring band, which lasted three years. Following a brief tour with <a href="spotify:artist:1b1N51wmSK0ckxFAMPSSHO">the Impressions</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a> took a non-music day job, picking up weekend gigs here and there for the next decade. In 1986, <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a> received a call from <a href="spotify:artist:1h0hOL3bVcYlg4xcSjU7fP">Otis Rush</a> asking him to play a weekend gig that turned full-time, lasting until 1993. After recording and touring stints with <a href="spotify:artist:25NoQIIoZ7oSXRZcUHkD4I">Mississippi Heat</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0uDA9BcTnKIPpNcZX6ZY3x">Magic Slim</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7HmW0ENiK2RblSh3CpOAnR">Willie Kent</a>, he released his much anticipated solo recording, Ready, in 1998 on Delmark Records. Featuring ten original tracks plus three covers, his band featured brother Big Golden Wheeler on harmonica and pianist <a href="spotify:artist:3CbqTmz4MT9cGAUZsGeFbJ">Ken Saydak</a>. Following a hectic tour schedule through Europe and South America, <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a>'s second release, Can't Take It, followed in 2000, again, on the Delmark label. Can't Take It spotlights all original compositions by <a href="spotify:artist:4hcFBiXUgiFgMkvWKlAZFE">Wheeler</a>, fronting the same band, with the exception of Ron Sorin replacing Big Golden on harp. ~ Al Campbell, Rovi