John Charles Brim (April 10, 1922 – October 1, 2003)[1] was an American Chicago blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He wrote and recorded the song "Ice Cream Man" which was later covered by the rock band Van Halen for their first album,[2] and by Martin Sexton on his 2001 album, Live Wide Open, and by David Lee Roth on his album Diamond Dave and by Swedish band FJK as "Isglasskis".
Brim began playing guitar by studying the recordings of Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red. He moved to Indianapolis in 1941 and Chicago in 1947. His wife, Grace, was also a talented musician, playing drums and harmonica.[2]
Brim recorded for several labels, including Chess Records. "Ice Cream Man" was recorded on May 4, 1953, but not released until 1968.[3] Other tracks recorded for Chess include "I Would Hate to See You Go" (1956). The album Whose Muddy Shoes includes all his songs from the 1950s on that label.[2]
Brim also operated a dry cleaners and a record store. He used his royalties from Van Halen's recording of "Ice Cream Man" to open a nightclub in Chicago.[4]
He continued to perform occasionally around Chicago and was a regularly featured performer at the Chicago Blues Festival beginning in 1991, when he was backed by a Chicago blues band, the Ice Cream Men (drummer Steve Cushing, guitarists Dave Waldman and "Rockin'" Johnny Burgin, and harmonica player Scott Dirks). The name of the band was coincidental; they were not Brim's regular band and had been using the name because the members had previously worked with the Chicago bluesman Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers, who worked as an ice cream man on Chicago's South Side.
Brim recorded four songs for the German label Wolf in 1989. A studio album, Ice Cream Man, was released by Tone Cool Records in 1994.[5] It was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award as the Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year.[4]
^Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 95. ISBN1-85868-255-X.
External linksedit
Illustrated Grace and John Brim discography
January 01, 1970
john, brim, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2016, lea. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources John Brim news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message John Charles Brim April 10 1922 October 1 2003 1 was an American Chicago blues guitarist songwriter and singer He wrote and recorded the song Ice Cream Man which was later covered by the rock band Van Halen for their first album 2 and by Martin Sexton on his 2001 album Live Wide Open and by David Lee Roth on his album Diamond Dave and by Swedish band FJK as Isglasskis John BrimBirth nameJohn Charles BrimBorn 1922 04 10 April 10 1922Hopkinsville Kentucky U S DiedOctober 1 2003 2003 10 01 aged 81 Gary Indiana U S GenresBluesInstrument s Guitar Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Studio albums 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography editBrim began playing guitar by studying the recordings of Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red He moved to Indianapolis in 1941 and Chicago in 1947 His wife Grace was also a talented musician playing drums and harmonica 2 Brim recorded for several labels including Chess Records Ice Cream Man was recorded on May 4 1953 but not released until 1968 3 Other tracks recorded for Chess include I Would Hate to See You Go 1956 The album Whose Muddy Shoes includes all his songs from the 1950s on that label 2 Brim also operated a dry cleaners and a record store He used his royalties from Van Halen s recording of Ice Cream Man to open a nightclub in Chicago 4 He continued to perform occasionally around Chicago and was a regularly featured performer at the Chicago Blues Festival beginning in 1991 when he was backed by a Chicago blues band the Ice Cream Men drummer Steve Cushing guitarists Dave Waldman and Rockin Johnny Burgin and harmonica player Scott Dirks The name of the band was coincidental they were not Brim s regular band and had been using the name because the members had previously worked with the Chicago bluesman Otis Big Smokey Smothers who worked as an ice cream man on Chicago s South Side Brim recorded four songs for the German label Wolf in 1989 A studio album Ice Cream Man was released by Tone Cool Records in 1994 5 It was nominated for a W C Handy Award as the Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year 4 Brim appeared at the 1997 San Francisco Blues Festival He made another album in 2000 and continued to give live performances such as in Belgium in 2001 and at the Chicago Blues Festival in 2002 4 Death editBrim died following a year long battle with heart cancer at 81 years old on October 1 2003 His funeral was held on October 10 2003 Studio albums editThe Ice Cream Man Tone Cool 1994 Jake s Blues Anna Bee 2000 See also editList of Chicago blues musicians List of electric blues musicians J O B Records discographyReferences edit Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara Praeger Publishers p 147 ISBN 978 0313344237 a b c Bill Dahl John Brim Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved 2016 06 27 Wirz Stefan Wirz American Music Grace and John Brim Discography Retrieved 29 November 2023 a b c Obituaries Timesonline co uk Retrieved 2016 06 27 subscription required Russell Tony 1997 The Blues From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray Dubai Carlton Books p 95 ISBN 1 85868 255 X External links editIllustrated Grace and John Brim discography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Brim amp oldid 1204822503, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
