James Cotton

The story of James Cotton, harmonica powerhouse, whose music shaped blues and rock. Orphaned at 9, Cotton’s life tracks America’s history—from the post-depression cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta to being mentored by the original Delta bluesmen, to Chicagoland’s artistic reinvention to the live music scene in Austin, Texas.

A hugely groundbreaking and influential live recording, that set the tone for generations of Blues artist afterwards. Performed during a tumultuous time at the Newport Jazz Festival, where just the day prior police used teargas and water hoses to control a drunken, riotous crowd, this extraordinary, historic set includes old blues standards as well as new Waters compositions. Despite the somewhat dangerous and unruly atmosphere at the festival, Waters and his electric blues band delivered an exquisite, confident performance. Featuring an all-star band with the likes of the legendary James Cotton, Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters at Newport 1960 would go on to become one of the most revered albums in modern day Chicago blues history.