R.I.P. JJ Cale
JJ Cale passed away at 8:00 pm on Friday July 26 in La Jolla, CA. Known for his laid back “Tulsa” sound (he was born in Tulsa) he influenced a many musicians, including Neil Young, and wrote some famous songs, e.g. “After Midnight” and “Cocaine” covered by Eric Clapton, “Clyde” covered by Waylon Jennings and Dr. Hook, and “Call Me the Breeze” covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The Tulsa sound was/is influenced by blues, rockabilly, country, jazz and even reggae influences, all in a very relaxed way. Just listen to his guitar.
What many don’t know is that he also had a great impact on Neil Young. Neil says in Jimmy McDonough’s “Shakey” biography:
“What is it about JJ Cale’s playing? I mean, you could say Eric Clapton’s the guitar god, but… he can’t play like JJ. JJ’s the one who played all that shit first… And he doesn’t play very loud, either — I really like that about him. He’s so sensitive. Of all the players I ever heard, it’s gotta be Hendrix and JJ Cale who are the best electric guitar players. JJ’s my peer, but he doesn’t have the business acumen — he doesn’t have the idea of how to deal with the rest of the world that I do. But musically, he’s actually more than my peer, because he’s got that thing. I don’t know what it is.”
Here to remember a full show, JJ Cale with Leon Russell at the Paradise Studios, LA 1979:
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go to JJCale.com (official website)
“I remember when I made my first album [1972’s Naturally], I was 32 or 33-years-old and I thought I was way too old then,” laughs JJ Cale. “When I see myself doing this at 70, I go, ‘What am I doing, I should be layin’ down in a hammock.'”
memphish on 
Albert Stromann on 
liza on 
Baz on 
