Cat-Iron, real name William Carridine Cat-Iron' was not his actual nickname, but a mishearing of his surname by his "discoverer" (September 8, 1898 in Roxie,

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

– November 11, 1958 in

Natchez Natchez may refer to: Places * Natchez, Alabama, United States * Natchez, Indiana, United States * Natchez, Louisiana, United States * Natchez, Mississippi, a city in southwestern Mississippi, United States * Grand Village of the Natchez, a site o ...

) was an American

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

singer and guitarist. During the

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fol ...

and

revival, "Cat-Iron" was "discovered" and recorded in 1957 by

Frederic Ramsey Jr. Charles Frederic Ramsey, Jr. (January 29, 1915 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – March 18, 1995 in Paterson, New Jersey) was an American writer on jazz and record producer. Ramsey took his BA at Princeton University in 1936, then took jobs at Ha ...

; the recordings were released in the United States in 1958 on the Folkways label, in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

in 1969 on the XTRA label. His song, "Jimmy Bell" has been

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

by many other musicians, first by Koerner, Ray & Glover on their 1963 album, '' Blues, Rags and Hollers'', later by

Stoney & Meatloaf ''Stoney and Meatloaf'' is the only album by Stoney & Meatloaf, a collaboration between Meat Loaf and female vocalist Shaun Murphy, released in 1971 on the Motown subsidiary label Rare Earth. Meat Loaf and Murphy met while performing with the D ...

The Numbers Band The Numbers Band (a.k.a. 15-60-75) are an American blues rock and experimental rock band formed in Kent, Ohio, United States in 1969. They are part of the "Akron Sound" that sprang forth from their home state. Career The original personnel we ...

, Peter Lang,

The Sharks The Sharks were a rhythm and blues band from Albany N.Y. from early 80's to mid 90's and opened for numerous recording artists such as Tower of Power, Stevie Ray Vaughan. History The band members started by playing cover versions of songs by ne ...

, Tom Doughty and

Watermelon Slim William P. Homans III, (born 1949) professionally known as "Watermelon Slim", is an American blues musician. He plays both guitar and harmonica. He is currently signed to NorthernBlues Music, based in Toronto, Ontario. Homans has also earned bach ...

Discography

*''Cat-Iron Sings Blues And Hymns'' (Folkways, 1958)

References

External links

Illustrated Cat Iron discography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cat Iron 1896 births 1958 deaths African-American guitarists 20th-century African-American male singers American blues singers American blues guitarists American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists Musicians from Louisiana People from St. Mary Parish, Louisiana People from Franklin County, Mississippi