James William McCarty (born June 1, 1945) is an American

blues rock Blues rock is a fusion music genre, genre and form of rock music, rock and blues music that relies on the chords/scales and instrumental improvisation of blues. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electri ...

guitarist from

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express,

Cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

, The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train. Since about 2014 Jim McCarty has joined forces with Detroit blues guitarist/songwriter Kenny Parker in The Kenny Parker Band along with several other veteran Detroit blues/rock musicians. He also makes guest appearances with other Detroit bands. He also recorded with

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...

and

Bob Seger Robert Clark Seger ( ; born May 6, 1945) is a retired American singer, songwriter, and musician. As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded with the groups Bob Seger and the Last Heard and the Bob Seger System throu ...

. He plays in a heavy blues-rock style that has inspired fledgling guitar players for more than 40 years. In an August 2006 interview on

VH1 Classic MTV Classic (formerly VH1 Smooth, VH1 Classic Rock, and VH1 Classic) is an American pay television network owned by Paramount Media Networks. It was originally launched in 1998 as "VH1 Smooth", an adult contemporary and smooth jazz channel. It ...

Ted Nugent Theodore Anthony Nugent (; born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and political activist. He goes by several nicknames, including Uncle Ted, the Nuge, and Motor City Madman. Nugent initially gained fame as the le ...

remarked "I'm the only guy in

rock'n'roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African American music such as jazz, rhythm and ...

that plays that hollow body jazz guitar (a Gibson Byrdland) and it's because in 1960 I saw Jimmy McCarty creating those big fat full chords like I do on "Stranglehold"; I learned that from Jimmy McCarty. Remember the name Jimmy McCarty. He is as important as

Bo Diddley Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist and singer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy ...

and

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...

and

Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz guitarist, jazz, country guitarist, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid body ...

...a god on guitar."

Biography 2006 – present

In 2005,

recorded ''Les Paul and Friends: American Made, World Played'', with an all-star band. He covered "69 Freedom Special", an instrumental tune co-written by McCarty and recorded while in the Buddy Miles Express. In February 2006, Les Paul won a

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

for his cover of the song, thus propelling McCarty into another award-winning arena as songwriter. In 2006, he participated in a

reunion, performing in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, and

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

It coincided with the release of a new Cactus album, ''Cactus V''. In 2007, Cactus played a Detroit date, a McCarty homecoming, to a sold-out, standing-room-only house. After two years in Cactus he left the band: "There were some great moments, but then there was a lot of banging heads together. Eventually I left because it was a frustrating experience for me" In 2009, a new band, the Hell Drivers, was created. The members are Jim McCarty, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, Marvin Conrad (bass), and Jim Edwards (vocals). A high-energy band, they play a variety of Detroit

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

from

Iggy Pop James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor and radio broadcaster. He was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1 ...

, The Rockets, Mitch Ryder,

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

and more to great critical acclaim. On September 25, 2010, Jim McCarty was inducted into th
Canada South Blues Society
"Living Blues Museum" located in Windsor, Ontario. Jim McCarty and Carmine Appice reunited Cactus once again in 2011. This line up included singer Jimmy Kunes, bassist

Pete Bremy Pete Bremy (born October 15, 1952) is an American rock bass player. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus (American band), Cactus. Biography Originally from Paterson, New Jersey, Paterson, Bremy is a lifelong resi ...

from

Vanilla Fudge Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, such as their hit cover of the Supremes' " You Keep Me Hangin' On". The band's original line–up was vocali ...

, and Randy Pratt on harmonica. This incarnation lasted five years producing two live albums, ''TKO Tokyo: Live in Japan'', ''An Evening in Tokyo'', and a studio album, ''Black Dawn''. They toured the United States, Europe and Japan. McCarty and Bremy left the band in late 2016.

Selective discography

Buddy Miles Express

• Expressway to Your Skull (1968)

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. Mercury Records released ...

Tracks: # Train # Let Your Love Light Shine # Don't Mess With Cupid # Funky Mule # You're the One (That I Adore) # I Can't Get Satisfied # Spot on the Wall • Electric Church (1969) Mercury Records Tracks: # Miss Lady # 69 Freedom Special # Cigarettes & Coffee # Destructive Love # Texas # My Chant # Wrap It Up Several tracks of ''Electric Church'' were produced by

including McCarty's Grammy winning song, "69 Freedom Special".

Freedom Express

. Easy Ridin' (1969) Mercury Records Tracks: # Got to Get Your Lovin' # Who Can We Depend On? # 7-1/2 # I Just Started Livin' # I Just Want to Be Me # You Never Get Too Big # Born to Be Wild # Tomorrow is Promised (To No One) # Don't Bogart Me # The Pusher

Cactus

• Cactus (1970)

Atco Records ATCO Records is an American record label founded in 1955. It is owned by Warner Music Group and operates as an imprint of Atlantic Records. After several decades of dormancy and infrequent activity under alternating Warner Music labels, the com ...

;

Wounded Bird Records Wounded Bird Records is an American compact disc only re-issue record label that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from popular and lesser known artists. Most of the Wounded Bird catalogue is licen ...

Tracks: # Parchman Farm # My Lady from South of Detroit # Bro. Bill # You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover # Let Me Swim # No Need to Worry # Oleo # Feel So Good • One Way... Or Another (1971) Atco; Wounded Bird Tracks: # Long Tall Sally # Rockout, Whatever You Feel Like # Rock 'N' Roll Children # Big Mama Boogie, Pt. 1 & 2 # Feel So Bad # Song for Aries # Hometown Bust # One Way... Or Another • Restrictions (1972) Atco; Wounded Bird Tracks: # Restrictions # Token Chokin' # Guiltless Glider # Evil # Alaska # Sweet Sixteen # Bag Drag # Mean Night in Cleveland • Cactus V (2006) Escapi Records Tracks: # Doing Time # Muscle and Soul # Cactus Music # The Groover( # High in the City # Day for Night # Living for Today # Shine # Electric Blue # Your Brother's Helper # Blues for Mr. Day # Part of the Game # Gone Train Gone # Jazzed • Black Dawn (2016) Sunset Blvd. Records Tracks # Black Dawn # Mama Bring It Home # Dynamite # Juggernaut # Headed For a Fall # You Need Love # The Last Goodbye # Walk a Mile # Another Way or Another # C-70 Blues Jimi Hendrix • Nine To The Universe (1980)

Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels. Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Green Day, En ...

Tracks played on: "Jimi/Jimmy Jam"

The Rockets

• Rockets (1977) Guinness Records Tracks: # Lufrania # Juke-Box Daddy # Rocket Car Wash Blues # Feel Alright # Rock 'N' Roll # Working Man Blues # Thing In "D" • Love Transfusion (1977) Tortoise International/

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic R ...

Tracks: # Fast Thing In "D"etroit # Fell Out Of Love # My Heart Needs You # Lookin' For Love # I Got To Move # Ramona # Fly Little Bird # Love Transfusion # She's A Pretty One • Rockets (Turn Up the Radio) (1979)

RSO Records RSO Records was a record label formed by rock and roll and musical theatre impresario Robert Stigwood and record executive Al Coury in 1973. The letters "RSO" stood for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. RSO managed the careers of several ma ...

Tracks: # Can't Sleep # Turn Up The Radio # Oh Well # Lost Forever, Left For Dreaming # Long Long Gone # Love Me Once Again # Something Ain't Right # Lucille # Feel Alright • No Ballads (1980) RSO Records Tracks # Desire # Don't Hold On # Restless # Sally Can't Dance # Takin' It Back # Time After Time # Sad Songs # I Want You To Love Me # Is It True # Troublemaker • Back Talk (1981)

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

Tracks: # Back Talk # Jealous # Lift You Up # Shanghaied # Love For Hire # I Can't Get Satisfied # Tired Of Wearing Black # I'll Be Your Lover # American Dreams # Lie To Me • Rocket Roll (1982) Elektra Records Tracks: # Rollin' By The Record Machine # Rock 'N Roll Girl # Gonna Crash # (I Wanna) Testify # Gimme Your Love # Born In Detroit # All Night Long # Kid With The Heart # Rollin' And Tumblin' # Mean Streets • Live Rockets (1983)

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

Tracks: # Rollin' By The Record Machine # Desire # Can't Sleep # Sally Can't Dance # Takin' It Back # Open The Door To Your Heart # Oh Well # Turn Up The Radio # Born In Detroit

Detroit Blues Band

• Real Life (1990) Blues Factory Records Tracks: # Back On my Feet Again # My Life Is Ruined # Luann # Go Downtown # She Knows It # Goin' back to Memphis # Scandalous Behavior # Walkin Out The Door # Treat Me Right • Can't Get You Off My Mind (1995) No Cover Productions Tracks: # Sister's Got a Lover # Tell Me # Every Day I Have the Blues # Won't You Consider # Missing You # She Winked Her Eye # Too Close for Comfort # East Side Gal # Tears from My Eyes # Can't Get You off My Mind

Mystery Train

• Love Lost (1998) No Cover Productions Tracks: # I Need You # Your Loss Now # I'm all alone # Where were you baby? # Allman Joy # Hold it right there # Love is a Rough Business # Come back to me # I'll never turn my back on you # Cold wind • Lexus: Live at the Detroit International Auto Show (2002) Tracks: # Rock with Me # Honey Hush # Need Your Love So Bad # T-Bone shuffle # As the years go passing by # Help Me # Standing on shaky ground # Oh Well • Kenny Parker: Hellfire (2019) Rock-a-While Records Tracks: # I've Got My Eye On You # Baby Come Back To Me # Blind And Paralyzed # Bye Bye Baby # Hellfire # Goin In Circles # Dance With Me # I'm Missing You # But Then We Danced # Half Crazy # Back Up Plan # Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty Dan Devins - Band Member

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mccarty, Jim American rock guitarists American male guitarists 1945 births Living people Cactus (American band) members Guitarists from Detroit The Detroit Wheels members The Rockets (band) members Buddy Miles Express members 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians