James Cotton was a legendary American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter known for his energetic style and collaborations with some of the genre's biggest names. He started his career in the early 1950s playing with Howlin' Wolf before making his first recordings for Sun Records in Memphis. In 1955, he joined Muddy Waters' band in Chicago, eventually becoming the bandleader and staying for a decade. Cotton later formed his own bands, including the Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet, and released his first solo album on Verve Records with production by Mike Bloomfield and Nick Gravenites. Throughout the 1970s, he remained a vital force in blues, notably playing harmonica on Muddy Waters' Grammy-winning album Hard Again. Cotton’s dynamic presence and masterful harmonica playing made him a key figure in modern blues.