Cat Iron
Encyclopedia
Cat Iron, real name William Carradine ['Cat Iron' was not his actual nickname, but a mishearing of his surname by his "rediscoverer"], (c. 1896, Garden City, Louisiana
, United States
– c. 1958, Natchez
, Mississippi
) was an African American
blues
singer and guitarist.
During the folk
and blues
revival, "Cat Iron" was "discovered" and recorded in 1957 by Frederic Ramsey Jr.
; the recordings were released in the United States in 1958 on the Folkways
label, in the United Kingdom
in 1969 on the XTRA label.
His song, "Jimmy Bell" has been covered
by many other musicians, first by Koerner, Ray & Glover
on their 1963 album, Blues, Rags and Hollers
, later by Stoney & Meatloaf
, The Numbers Band
, Peter Lang
, The Sharks
, Tom Doughty
and Watermelon Slim
.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
– c. 1958, Natchez
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
) was an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and guitarist.
During the folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
revival, "Cat Iron" was "discovered" and recorded in 1957 by Frederic Ramsey Jr.
Fred Ramsey
Charles Frederic Ramsey, Jr. was an American writer on jazz and record producer....
; the recordings were released in the United States in 1958 on the Folkways
Folkways Records
Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways.-History:...
label, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1969 on the XTRA label.
His song, "Jimmy Bell" has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by many other musicians, first by Koerner, Ray & Glover
Koerner, Ray & Glover
Koerner, Ray & Glover is the name of a blues band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band featured Tony "Little Sun" Glover on harmonica, "Spider" John Koerner on guitar and vocals, and Dave "Snaker" Ray on guitar and vocals. Koerner, Ray & Glover were part of the early folk/blues explosion in the...
on their 1963 album, Blues, Rags and Hollers
Blues, Rags and Hollers
Blues, Rags and Hollers is the debut album by American country blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover, released in 1963.- History :The debut album of the country blues trio from Minneapolis, Minnesota featured Tony "Little Sun" Glover on harmonica, "Spider" John Koerner on guitar and vocals, and Dave...
, later by Stoney & Meatloaf
Stoney & Meatloaf
Stoney and Meatloaf is the little known debut album of singer Meat Loaf, released in 1971 on the Motown subsidiary label Rare Earth, a collaboration with female vocalist Shaun Murphy...
, The Numbers Band
The Numbers Band
The Numbers Band are an American blues rock and experimental rock band formed in Kent, Ohio, United States in 1969. They are part of the 'Akron Sound' that sprung forth from their home state.-Career:...
, Peter Lang
Peter Lang (guitarist)
Peter Lang is an accomplished acoustic guitarist, from the same genre, American Primitivism, as the better-known guitarists Leo Kottke and John Fahey. All three artists shared the Takoma Records label, and a joint-titled album released in 1974 features a selection of songs from...
, The Sharks
The Sharks
The Sharks are a new wave band founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1979, by Doug Phillips , Steve Zero , Sam Lugar , and Dave Schaeffer.-History:...
, Tom Doughty
Tom Doughty
Tom Doughty is an English, Cheshire-based lap steel acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter, who has released three albums. His style is free-flowing and improvisational, drawing from the blues, folk and jazz-swing standards. He has played at venues all over the United Kingdom and frequently...
and Watermelon Slim
Watermelon Slim
Bill Homans, professionally known as "Watermelon Slim", is an American blues musician. He plays both guitar and harmonica. He is currently signed to NorthernBlues Music, based in Toronto, Ontario.-Biography:...
.