| Sugar Blue | |
|---|---|
Lucerna music hall, Prague, 26 October 1988 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Whiting |
| Born | December 16, 1949 Harlem, New York, United States[1] |
| Genres | Blues Rock |
| Occupations | Harmonicist, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Harmonica, vocals |
| Years active | Late 1960s-present |
| Labels | Various |
| Website | Official website |
Sugar Blue (born James Whiting, December 16, 1949, Harlem, New York, United States)[1] is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician, who plays the harmonica.[2] He is probably best known for playing on The Rolling Stones' single, "Miss You".
An article in the Chicago Tribune stated: "The sound of Sugar Blue's harmonica could pierce any night... it's the sound of a musician who transcends the supposed limitations of his instrument."[3]
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In the mid 1970s, Blue played as a session musician on Johnny Shines' Too Wet to Plow (1975) and with Roosevelt Sykes. Whilst in the company of the latter, Blue met Louisiana Red and the twosome toured and recorded in 1978.[4]
Taking advice from Memphis Slim, in the late 1970s Blue traveled to Paris, France. This led to him playing on several The Rolling Stones tracks ("Some Girls", "Send It to Me" and the aforementioned "Miss You"). Trombonist Mike Zwerin backed Blue on his solo debut album, Crossroads (1979). Following the release of his From Chicago to Paris (1982), Blue joined Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All Stars.[4] In 1984, Blue's track "Another Man Done Gone", appeared on the compilation album, Blues Explosion. It won a Grammy in 1984 for Best Traditional Blues Album.[5]
Blue appeared with Brownie McGhee in the film, Angel Heart (1987). Blue's next album Blue Blazes was released in 1994.[4] It was followed by In Your Eyes (1995), and Code Blue released in 2007.[6]
On January 26, 2010, Beeble Music released Threshold, Blue's latest album.[7]
| Year | Title | Label | Number | Notes |
| 1978 | Red, Funk and Blue | Black Panther | BP1001 | Duo with Louisiana Red |
| 1979 | King Bee | JSP | Duo with Louisiana Red | |
| 1980 | Crossroads | Blue Silver | BS 3004 | France, recorded 1979 |
| 1982 | From Chicago to Paris | Blue Silver | BS 3012/3332 | France, recorded 1980 with Slim Pezin, Earl Howell |
| 1984 | High Voltage Blues | JSP | 1081 | with Louisiana Red |
| 1991 | Absolutely Blue | Seven Seas/King | KICP 341 | Japan, recorded 1982 |
| 1994 | Blue Blazes | Alligator | 4819 | |
| 1995 | In Your Eyes | Alligator | 4831 | |
| 2006 | Right Now | Kozel | Switzerland, George Kay Band featuring Sugar Blue | |
| 2007 | Code Blue | Beeble | 801 | |
| 2010 | Threshold | Beeble | 802 |
| Year | Title | Label | Number | Notes |
| 1979 | Stars Of The Streets | Blue Whale Records | Performances were recorded live outdoors in the streets and parks of New York City. | |
| 1980 | [Kingdom Jazz | Gate 7010 | Recorded at the Palm Beach Casino, Cannes, France | |
| 1984 | Blues Explosion | Atlantic | 80149 | Grammy winner, recorded live at Montreux |
| 1992 | From Paris to Chicago | EPM Blues Collection | 756 | Reissue of Crossroads and From Chicago to Paris |
| 1998 | The Blues Spectrum of Louisiana Red | JSP | UK recording | |
| 2007 | Another Man Done Gone | WNTS/Believe Digital | MP3 download | Reissue of Crossroads and From Chicago to Paris |