Elmore James - Dust My Broom.

Due to his early death, just before the 1960s "blues boom", less is known about James than about other contemporaries such as Muddy Waters, BB King, or Howlin Wolf. There are very few known photos of James performing, and few descriptions of his performances, or of what he was like as a person. This lack of information is exacerbated by the silence of many people who had known him in the Chicago music scene. Although Elmore could be reportedly 'difficult' (reportedly drinking on the job, not paying out cash, abandoning musicians, double booking etc.) their 'conspiracy of silence' on this remarkable musician, writer and singer does them no credit. "Until he fell foul of the Chicago union", James and his band the Broomdusters were as popular in the Chicago clubs as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and BB King.

James was born Elmore Brooks in the old Richland community in Holmes County, Mississippi. He was the illegitimate son of 15-year-old Leola Brooks, a field hand. His father was probably Joe Willie "Frost" James, who moved in with Leola, and so Elmore took James as his surname. His parents adopted an orphaned boy, Robert Holston, at some point.

Elmore began making music at age 12 using a simple one-string instrument ('diddley bow' or 'jitterbug') strung up on a shack wall. As a teen he was playing at local dances under the names "Cleanhead" and "Joe Willie James." His first marriage was to Minnie Mae in or around 1942, whom he apparently never divorced. He subsequently married twice, to Georgianna Crump in 1947 and to a woman called Janice in or around 1954. (Another reported marriage of Elmore to a Josephine Harris has been found to be a mistaken record; a different Elmore James.)

Other well-known musicians of that time with whom he played included the "second" Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Johnson. Although Johnson died in 1938, James (like many other musicians) was strongly influenced by him, and also by Kokomo Arnold and Tampa Red. James recorded several of Tampa Red's songs, and even inherited from his band two of his famous "Broomdusters", 'Little' Johnny Jones (piano) and Odie Payne (drums). There is some controversy as to whether it was James himself or Robert Johnson who wrote James's trademark song, "Dust My Broom". James was still under 20 when Johnson had recorded his version of the song in 1936.

An important side to Elmore's character (and one which may have hastened his demise) was his lifelong taste for moonshine whiskey, to which he was introduced at an early age. Alcohol killed his bandmates and friends Willie Love and Johnny Jones at an early age. His regular rhythm guitarist Homesick James maintained his longevity by not taking part in the heavy drinking sessions after — and often during — gigs, a refusal that was unpopular with the rest of the band. Elmore is also reported to have been an extremely fast driver. He loved hunting with guns and dogs down in Mississippi, and would go on hunting trips for protracted periods.

During World War II James joined the United States Navy, was promoted to coxswain and took part in the invasion of Guam against the Japanese. Upon his discharge, Elmore returned to central Mississippi and eventually settled in Canton with his adopted brother Robert Holston. It was at this time that he learned he had a serious heart condition. Working in Robert's electrical shop he devised his unique electric sound, using parts from the shop and an unusual placement of two D'Armond pick ups.

He began recording with Trumpet Records in nearby Jackson in January 1951, first as sideman to the second Sonny Boy Williamson and also to their mutual friend Wille Love, then debuting as a session leader in August with "Dust My Broom". It was a surprise R&B hit in 1952 and turned James into a star. He then broke his contract with Trumpet Records to sign up with the Bihari Brothers through Ike Turner, who played guitar and piano on a couple of James' early Bihari recordings. James' "I Believe" was another hit a year later. During the 1950s he recorded for the Bihari Brothers' Flair Records, Meteor Records and Modern Records labels, as well as for Chess Records and Mel London's Chief Records for whom "It Hurts Me Too" was a hit. His backing musicians were known as the Broomdusters. In 1959 he began recording what are perhaps his best sides for Bobby Robinson's Fire Records label. These include "The Sky Is Crying" (credited to Elmo James and His Broomdusters), "My Bleeding Heart", "Stranger Blues", "Look On Yonder Wall", "Done Somebody Wrong", and "Shake Your Moneymaker".

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