Jimmy Nelson (singer)

Jimmy Nelson
Jimmy "T99" Nelson at the Long Beach Blues Festival, 1996
Background information
Birth name	James Nelson
Also known as	Jimmy "T99" Nelson
Born	(1919-04-07)April 7, 1919 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died	July 29, 2007(2007-07-29) (aged 88) Houston, Texas, United States
Genres	Jump blues, rhythm and blues,swing
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1948-2007
Labels	Olliet Records RPM Records Kent Records Chess Records Music City Records Paradise Records All Boy Records Bullseye Blues & Jazz Nettie Marie Records Ace

Jimmy "T99" Nelson (born James Nelson, April 7, 1919 – July 29, 2007) was an American jump blues and rhythm and blues shouter and songwriter. With a recording career that spanned over 50 years, Jimmy "T99" Nelson became a distinguished elder statesman of American music. His best known recordings are "T-99 Blues" and "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On". Nelson notably worked with Duke Robillard and Otis Grand.

Nelson got his start singing in church. In 1941, he saw a performance by Big Joe Turner while he was visiting Oakland, California, and realized he wanted to sing the blues. Turner taught Nelson about singing, performance and the music business. Nelson, in turn, absorbed the shouting style of his mentor.

From 1951 through 1961, Jimmy Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio released eight singles with the Bihari Brothers' Modern/RPM label. The biggest of these was "T-99 Blues" (which referred to the old Texas Highway #99), which debuted in June 1951. It stayed on the US Billboard R&B chart for twenty-one weeks and reached number 1. In 1952, Nelson had another RPM hit with "Meet Me With Your Black Dress On."

Nelson began touring, performing with bands led by Joe Liggins and Roy Milton, and playing venues including the Apollo and Howard theaters. He cut singles for a number of labels including Kent, Music City, Paradise and All Boy, and Chess (including for them the 1955 "Free and Easy Mind").