James Oden

b. 26 June 1903, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, d. 30 Dec 1977, Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was also called St. Louis Jimmy, Big Bloke, Poor Boy and Aged Guy Oden. Although he was a reasonably able pianist, Oden’s popularity rests primarily on his prowess like a blues vocalist and composer. His most well-known track, ‘Goin’ Down Sluggish’, continues to be documented by many popular blues performers, including a superb edition by Howlin’ Wolf aided by Willie Dixon, and was something of the anthem among white organizations through the 60s. He was created, according for some resources, to Henry Oden, a dancer, and Leana Western. Both parents passed away before he was eight years of age and his early existence remains a empty, mainly because he wished it therefore, until he surfaced in St. Louis, Missouri, at age 14, employed in a barber’s store. St. Louis experienced a flourishing blues community through the 20s and Jimmy Oden discovered himself a distinct segment within it. He trained himself piano during this time period but didn’t play professionally, thinking that there have been many better players than himself who have the ability to accompany him. His primary influence seems to become Walter Davis, although his most continuous companions had been Big Joe Williams and Roosevelt Sykes. It had been together with Sykes and violinist Curtis Mosby that he produced his 1st foray right into a documenting studio room in 1932. He shifted north to Chicago in 1933 and was mixed up in blues scene of this city from that point before 50s, performing, composing, and sometimes owning a music group for Eddie Boyd, aswell as being mixed up in founding of the work record label. Using one of his afterwards periods he was supported by the after that rising Muddy Waters and, after his actions were limited by a significant car crash, he used lodgings in the cellar of Waters’ home, paying his lease by supplying the casual track. He benefited briefly from your resurgence appealing in the blues through the 60s, documenting albums for such brands as Delmark Information, Bluesville and Spivey. His loss of life was the consequence of bronchopneumonia.