- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Weldon Cale
- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- John Weldon Cale was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he graduated in 1956 from Tulsa Central High School. In the early 1960s he moved to Los Angeles, along with a number of other Tulsa musicians (known for their "Tulsa Sound"), where he worked as a studio engineer. His nickname "JJ" was given to him by Elmer Valentine, co-owner of Whisky A Go Go, the Sunset Strip nightclub, so as not to be confused with the Velvet Underground's John Cale.
JJ Cale released his first single in 1958 "Shock Hop/Sneaky" under the name Johnny Cale. He followed that single with "Troubles, Troubles/Purple Onion" which was released under the name Johnny Cale Quintet in 1960, along with his 1961 single "Ain't That Lovin You Baby/She's My Desire." From 1965 on forward all of his recordings were released under the moniker "JJ Cale" starting with 1965's "It's A Go Go Place/Dick Tracy" followed by 1966's "In Our Time/Outside Looking In", 1966's "After Midnight/Slow Motion", 1971's "Crazy Mama" (his biggest hit) and 1979's "Katy Kool/Juarez Blues."
JJ Cale's albums include "Naturally" (1972), "Really" (1973), "Okie" (1974), "Troubadour" (1976), "5" (1979), "Shades" (1981), "Grasshopper" (1982), "#8" (1983), "Travel Log" (1990), "Number 10" (1992), "Closer To You" (1994), "Guitar Man" (1996), "To Tulsa & Back" (2004), and "Roll On" (2009). A live album "Live" was released in 2001.
JJ Cale is best known for the songs he wrote which became successes for a variety of artists including Eric Clapton ("After Midnight", "Cocaine", "Travelin' Light", "I'll Make Love To You Anytime", "Angel"), and Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Breeeze").
- IMDb mini biography by: PeterMH
- SpouseChristine Lakeland(? - July 26, 2013) (his death)
- Was a dedicated lover of animals.
- Grammy Award-winning musician, guitarist and songwriter, known for his bluesy, laid-back style. Wrote a number of songs made famous by Eric Clapton ("Cocaine", "After Midnight", "The Road to Escondido"), as well as others covered by Johnny Cash, Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Call Me the Breeze"), Captain Beefheart and the Allman Brothers.
- Good friend with Eric Clapton. He wrote some of Clapton's solo songs like "After Midnight" and "Cocaine". In 2006 together they released the album "The Road to Escondido", which won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album two years later.
- He helped to create the "Tulsa Sound," a genre with blues, rockabilly, country and jazz influences. He was a former member of the Grand Ole Opry touring company. He also pioneered the use of drum machines.
- He changed his name from John Cale to JJ Cale to avoid being confused with John Cale of the Velvet Underground.
- Basically, I'm just a guitar player that figured out I wasn't ever gonna be able to buy dinner with my guitar playing. So I got into songwriting, which is a little more profitable business.
- I'd like to have the fortune, but I don't care too much about the fame.
- When I sit down and play the guitar, I am 20 years old again.
- I used to write more about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. I don't do that quite much as I used to, and it's a little bit more "old man" philosophy.
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