Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CALE, J.J.

(b John Weldon Cale, 5 December 1938, Oklahoma City; d 26 July 2013, La Jolla CA) Singer, songwriter, guitarist. He graduated from high school in Tulsa in 1956. Some sources have given his name as Jean Jacques Cale; this was nonsense made up by a drunken French journalist who was refused an interview: he shunned the limelight and rarely gave interviews, but originated a Tulsa style of his own.

Cale was nicknamed "J.J." by a club owner on the Sunset Strip. He worked with Phil Spector, Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett; made single 'Slow Motion'/ 'After Midnight' '65; with producer Snuff Garrett he formed a band, the Leathercoated Minds '66, who made an album. Eric Clapton covered 'After Midnight' in '70; Cale signed to Leon Russell's Shelter label and his lazy country blues, laid-back singing and impeccable guitar acquired a cult following: he did not exert himself either in concert or on record, but fans got just what they wanted. Albums include Naturally, Really '72, Okie '74; Troubador '76 had another hit for Clapton: 'Cocaine'; Shades '81, Grasshopper '82 were more of the same; on No. 8 '83, he was joined by Richard Thompson. He scored French film La Femme de mon Pote, German film 50/50; then Travel-Log '89 on Silvertone had a bigger band and higher spirits, followed by Number 10 '92. Closer To You '94 (with Garth Hudson, and switching labels again to Virgin) was accompanied by a rare tour of Europe, well-received: the band finished with three nights at the Hammersmith Apollo and did the Jools Holland Later show, broadcast on Guy Fawkes Day.

Cale's stuff didn't age but just got better, like whisky. With Guitar Man '96 his motto was 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Very Best Of had 20 tracks, two-CD Anyway The Wind Blows had 50, both ‘97 on Mercury. J.J. Cale Live 2001 on Delabel was mostly from the '94 tour; To Tulsa And Back on Sanctuary was made at Natura Digital Studios south of Tulsa in 2003 and released the next year. In 2004 the Cale band did a 34-gig USA tour, playing Clapton's Crossroads benefit along the way, and on that occasion Clapton played their whole set with them.