1963
I'VE GOT A WOMAN * JIMMY McGRIFF * SUE 317 * UK
All round musician James Harrell McGriff was born in Philadelphia and started plying acoustic bass and alto sax, from there he moved on to drums, vibes and piano, but it as electric (Hammond) organ player that he is most known for. Jimmy McGriff studded organ with fellow Philadelphian Richard "Groove" Holmes as well as with with classical organist Sonny Gatewood. Although he has been consistently bracketed as a Jazz musician McGriff himself has always claimed "I'm more of a Blues player. That's what I really feel.". The above was his first release on the American Sue label #770, and reached the top five Billboard charts both R&B and Pop. It was also a big hit with the British Mod's partly due to the electric organ being a modern sound they identified with and tacitly claimed for their own.