Tail Dragger

about

Tail Dragger was American Chicago blues musician James Yancey Jones (born in Altheimer, Arkansas, on 30 September 1940; died 4 September 2023). He performed beginning in the 1960s and released four albums. A disciple of Howlin' Wolf, Jones was given his nickname by his hero because of his habit of regularly arriving late at Howlin' Wolf performances. Jones moved to Chicago in the '60's and quickly began to play with Howlin' Wolf and other West Side blues legends over more than a quarter century. The Chicago Reader's Monica Kendrick calls his music "the classic sound of Chicago in the 40s and 50s -- the sound of a generation that still remembered the south but was adapting rapidly to the cold rain and snow." It was Howlin' Wolf who gave him the "Tail Dragger" moniker (due to his propensity to be a bit late to gigs.) -- before that, he was known as "Crawlin' James." A number of local blues artists got their start playing in his bands. Among them: Johnny B. Moore, Willie Kent, Hubert Sumlin, Carey Bell, Mack Simmons, Eddie Shaw, Eddie Taylor, Lester Davenport and Rockin' Johnny Burgin. While he has recorded a number of singles over the past 15 years, his first long player, Crawlin' Kingsnake was released in 1996. He has another LP due in 1/99 on Delmark Records. Jones' career has been marred by the 1993 incident where he shot and killed fellow bluesman Boston Blackie, apparently after arguing over the profits for the Blues Fest show where they both appeared. He recently re

top songs

albums

My Head Is Bald - Live at Vern's Friendly Lounge, Chicago

Live at Rooster's Lounge

Longtime Friends in the Blues

Stop Lyin'

American People

My Head Is Bald

Crawlin' Kingsnake

Stop Lyin': The Lost Session

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It Ain't Over - Delmark Celebrates 55 Years Of Blues

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Jimmy Dawkins Presents: The Leric Story

Smashed Hits

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Delmark 60 Years of Blues

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