JJ Malone - Highway 99 (1997)

20 August 1935, Pete’s Corner, Alabama, USA. Malone was playing guitar and harmonica before his thirteenth birthday, and he began performing at dances and parties when he was 17. In the mid-50s he spent a year in the Air Force and then formed his first band, the Rockers, later called Tops In Blues. Once out of the armed services in 1957, he formed the Rhythm Rockers in Spokane, Washington, and they worked all over the west coast. In 1966, he settled in Oakland, California, and recorded for the Galaxy label, enjoying a hit with ‘It’s A Shame’ in 1972; he subsequently had records issued by the Red Lightnin’, Cherrie, Paris Album and Eli Mile High labels. Malone is a soulful vocalist, adept on both piano and guitar and equally convincing whether turning his hand to straight blues, rocking R&B, or funk-influenced material. In the late 90s he was treated for cancer and is now in remission.