picture of jimmy pugh
Jim Pugh
In his career Jim Pugh has performed with Johnny Taylor, Little Milton and Otis Rush, recorded with Etta James, Van Morrison, Robert Cray and B.B. King and has produced over a dozen CDs, including Robert Cray, Tommy Castro and The Gospel Hummingbirds. A member of the Robert Cray Band for over 20 years, his songs have been performed by his former boss as well as Tower Of Power and Guitar Shorty. Pugh has played on over 20 Grammy-nominated recordings, five of them winners.
 
"Some call it 'soul jaz'’ or 'BBQ blues'," says Pugh of the music he started playing at Dottie Ivory’s Stardust Lounge in San Francisco in 1973. Former fan dancer, Dottie Ivory was a great singer who’s rendition of Dinah Washington’s "What A Difference A Day Makes" was the highlight of her nightly set.
 
He was just 19 years old and new in town and the Stardust Lounge — a corner bar with a tiny bandstand and even smaller dance floor — could be a rough place. "Some nights Dottie would sing with a pool cue in her hand," Pugh recalls. "That kind of place."
 
But Jimmy McCracklin and Charles Brown would come in and the youngster got to play behind Joe Louis Walker and Fillmore Slim and Mel Brown. House organist Louis Madison (former Famous Flame) helped Pugh along. "I’d watch him play and get him to show me stuff, and when he had a gig somewhere else I’d take his place for the night. After awhile, they’d let me play the whole week," he says.
 
He’s come a long way from Dottie’s, writing songs like "The One in the Middle," which was named song of the year by LIVING BLUES MAGAZINE, performing on David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brian and working with Etta James, Chris Isaak and Robert Cray. Leaving the Robert Cray Band, Pugh continues to write, play and rack up accolades.
 
Recently he’s founded the non-profit LITTLE VILLAGE FOUNDATION to record and promote deserving but underappreciated talents.
 
From The Waterfront Blues Festival
contact: jimpugh@pastelmotif.com
homepage: www.pastelmotif.com
on tour Click on the logo to see Jim's tour dates.

 

Discography [30]
Mr. Lucky
Pointblank 91724-2
released 1991
compilation, recorded in Hollywood, CA and Sausalito, CA/USA
John Lee Hooker, guitar, vocals
Kenny Baker, sax
Albert Collins, guitar
Ry Cooder, guitar
Robert Cray, guitar, vocals
John Hammond jr., slide guitar, harmonica
Van Morrison, guitar, vocals
Michael Osborn, guitar
Keith Richards, guitar
Carlos Santana, guitar
Johnny Winter, guitar
Johnnie Johnson, piano
Booker T. Jones, organ
Deacon Jones, organ
Jimmy Pugh, organ
Chester Thompson, keyboards
Richard Cousins, bass
Maurice Cridlin, bass
Steve Ehrmann, bass
Jeff Ganz, bass
Jim Guyett, bass
Nick Lowe, bass
Benny Rietveld, bass
Larry Taylor, bass
Gaylord Birch, drums
Bowen Brown, drums
Tom Compton, drums
Kevin Hayes, drums
Tim Kaihatsu, guitar
Jim Keltner, drums
Scott Mathews, drums
Karl Perazzo, timbales
Raul Rekow, congas
Terry Evans, vocals
William "Bill" Greene, vocals
Bobby King, vocals
Night Vision
Alligator Records ALCD 4812
recorded 1993 in Richmond, CA/USA
Charlie Baty, guitar
Tim Devine, tenor sax, baritone sax
Rick Estrin, harmonica, vocals
Jeff Lewis, trumpet
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Brad Lee Sexton, bass
Dobie Strange, drums
Joe Louis Walker, guitar
Big Guitar
Blue Bot BDR101
recorded 1995
Alex Baum, bass
Gaylord Birch, drums
Bowen Brown, drums
Steve Evans, bass
Steve Lucky, piano
Anthony Paule, guitar, vocals
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Paul Revelli, drums
Move On
Rounder Records CD 3143
recorded in Burns, TN; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN and Sausalito, CA/USA
Tracy Nelson, piano, vocals
Wayne Jackson, horn
Andrew Love, horn
Larry Chaney, guitar, drums
Mike Henderson, guitar
Al Kooper, guitar
Gary Nicholson, guitar
Andrew McMahon, piano
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Reese Wynans, organ, piano
Byron House, bass
Michael Rhodes, bass
John Gardner, drums
Bob Mater, drums
Delbert McClinton, vocals
Maria Muldaur, vocals
Alice Newman, vocals
Bonnie Raitt, vocals
Rebecca Evans Russell, vocals
Phoebe Snow, vocals
Can't Keep A Good Man Down
Blind Pig Records BPCD 5041
recorded in San Francisco, CA/USA
Tommy Castro, guitar
Keith Crossan, tenor sax
Jim Pugh, Hammond organ, piano
Commander Cody, piano
Randy McDonald, bass
Shad Harris, drums
Swinging And Singing
Menthol Records MENT 9701
recorded in Fort Worth, TX/USA
Johnny Reno, sax, vocals
Gary Sweet, trumpet
Paul Boll, guitar
James Hinkle, guitar
Johnny Case, piano
Jimmy Pugh, organ
Red Young, organ
Alan Pollard, bongos
Earl Harvin, drums
Kevin Hayes, drums
Jeff Howe, drums
Shadow Of The Blues
Alligator Records ALCD 4862
recorded in Sacramento, CA/USA
Charlie Baty, guitar
June Core, drums, maracas, percussion
Rick Estrin, guitar, harmonica, vocals
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Ronnie James Weber, bass
Deja Blue
House Of Blues 51416 1399 2
recorded in Austin, TX and Sausalito, CA/USA
Angela Strehli, vocals
Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, sax, harmonica
Jon Blondell, trombone
Gary Slechta, trumpet
Steve James, slide guitar
Derek O'Brien, guitar
Doug Sahm, guitar
Austin DeLone, organ
Riley Osbourne, organ
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Gene Taylor, piano
Andy Santana, harmonica
Jack Barber, bass
Steve Ehrmann, bass
Burt Winn, bass
June Core, drums
George Rains, drums
Marcia Ball, vocals
Lou Ann Barton, vocals
Ebony & Irony
Evangeline Records GEL 4017
recorded in Nashville, TN/USA
Tracy Nelson, vocals
Terry Hanck, sax
Wayne Jackson, horn
Andrew Love, horn
George Bradfute, guitar
Bob Britt, guitar
Mike Henderson, guitar
Marcia Ball, piano
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Reese Wynans, organ, piano
Steve Conn, accordion
Andrea Zahn, fiddle
Michael Rhodes, bass
Byron House, bass
Brian Fullen, drums
John Gardner, drums
John Mock, penny whistle
Cold Hard Cash
Burnside Records BCD-0043-2
recorded April through October 2000 in Burbank, CA/USA
Scott Ellison, guitar, vocals
Alan Mirikitani, tenor sax, baritone sax
Jim Pugh, organ
Boyd LeFan, bass guitar
Lee Spath, drums
In My Spirit
Bad Daddy Records 659428-0012-21
recorded in Oakland, CA/USA
Craig Horton, guitar, vocals
Greg Riley, tenor sax, baritone sax
Chris Whynaught, tenor sax
Duane Benjamin, trombone
Bob Welsh, guitar, keyboards
Rusty Zinn, guitar
Chris Burns, keyboards
Jim Pugh, organ
John Hanes, drums
I Go Wild!
Evidence ECD 26119-2
recorded April 2001 in Mill Valley, CA/USA
Guitar Shorty, guitar, vocals
Scott Mathews, sax, guitar, keyboards, drums
Terry "Big T" de Rouen, guitar
Alden Clark, keyboards
Jim Pugh, Hammond organ
Howard Deere, bass
Glenn Letsch, bass
Danny Gerass, drums
Bad Case Of The Blues
Burnside Records Burnside 50
recorded in Tulsa, OK and Los Angeles, CA/USA
Scott Ellison, guitar, vocals
Kurt Lybarger, sax
Alan Mirikitani, tenor sax
Michael Thompson, trombone
Don Colopy, trumpet
Mike Turner, trumpet, guitar
Habanero Horns, horn
Home Front Horns, horn
Larry Bell, Hammond organ
Jim Pugh, Hammond organ
Dick Sims, Hammond B-3 organ
Spencer Sutton, piano, organ
Steve LeGassick, keyboards
Terry Lupton, keyboard
Jimmy Markham, harmonica
Armando Compean, bass
Jim Strader, bass
Tommy Waggoner, bass
Larry York, bass
Jim Ziegler, bass
Bill Belknap, drums
Richard Heck, drums
Steve Monreal, drums
Lee Spath, drums
Jim Karstein, percussion
Face To Face
Eagle Records ER 20023-2
John Lee Hooker, guitar, vocals
Dean McKinney Moore, sax
Dickey Betts, guitar
Elvin Bishop, guitar
Anthony Cook, guitar
Billy Friday Johnson, guitar
Warren Haynes, slide guitar
Ron Thompson, guitar, organ
George Thorogood, guitar
Johnny Winter, slide guitar
Robert "Red Top" Young, guitar
Jim Pugh, organ
Tony Saunders, organ, bass
Dan Zemelman, piano
Jack Casady, bass
Ruth Davies, bass
Joe Thomas, bass
Bowen Brown, drums
Marlon Green, drums
Kevin Hayes, drums
Scott Mathews, drums
Kevin Williams, drums
Van Morrison, vocals
Soul Shaker
Blind Pig Records BPCD 5094
recorded 2004 in Minneapolis, MN /USA
Tommy Castro, guitar, vocals
Keith Crossan, sax, flute
Russell Branch, baritone sax
Kevin Bowe, guitar, organ, bass
Steve Spirn, guitar
Jim Pugh, Hammond organ, vocals
Randy McDonald, bass
Chris Sandoval, drums, percussion
Bryan Hanna, percussion
Armando Morales, congas
A Ship Called Love
Telarc CD-83629
Eric Bibb, guitar, vocals
Jonas Sjöblom, flute, tabla, wind chimes
Chuck Anthony, guitar
Figge Boström, guitar
B.J. Cole, guitar, pedal steel
Danny Flowers, guitar
Desmond Foster, guitar, keyboards, bass
Glen Scott, guitar, celeste, Hammond organ, piano, vibes, drums, percussion
Amar Sundy, guitar
Levi B. Saunders, banjo
Paul Waller, dobro
Gordon Cyrus, synthesizer, bass
Janne Petersson, Fender Rhodes
Jim Pugh, organ, keyboards
Gary Compton, harmonica, bass harmonica
Corrina Hewat, harp
Brian Shiels, bass
Kim Yarbrough, bass
Brady Blade, drums, tambourine
Larry Crockett, drums, congas
The Dixie Hummingbirds, vocals
Ruthie Foster, vocals
Ira Tucker, vocals
Hooker
Shout! Factory 826663-10198
compilation
John Lee Hooker, guitar, vocals
Emilio Castillo, tenor sax
Hank Cosby, tenor sax
Otis French, tenor sax
Johnny Hooks, tenor sax
Lenny Pickett, tenor sax
Steve Berlin, baritone sax
Steve Kupka, baritone sax
Mike Terry, baritone sax
Tower Of Power Horns
Mic Gillette, trombone, trumpet
Greg Adams, trumpet
William 'Lefty' Bates, guitar
Wayne Bennett, guitar
Eddie Burns, guitar
Danny Caron, guitar
Eric Clapton, guitar
Ry Cooder, guitar
Anthony Cook, guitar, synthesizer
Robert Cray, guitar, vocals
Hollywood Fats, guitar
Barry Galbraith, guitar
Lloyd Gregory, guitar
Buddy Guy, guitar
John Hammond, guitar, harmonica
Warren Haynes, slide guitar
David Hidalgo, guitar
Roy Hooker, guitar
Billy Johnson, guitar
Luther Johnson, guitar
Jim Kahr, guitar
Tim Kaihatsu, guitar
Bruce Kaphan, guitar
Rich Kirch, guitar
Eddie Kirkland, guitar
Sammy Lawhorn, guitar
Tony McPhee, guitar
Steve Miller, guitar
Van Morrison, guitar, vocals
Mike Osborn, guitar
Bonnie Raitt, slide guitar, vocals
Walliy Richardson, guitar
Roy Rodgers, guitar
Cesar Rosas, guitar
Carlos Santana, guitar
Johnny Lee Schell, guitar
Pops Staples, guitar
Eddie Taylor, guitar, bass
Jimmie Vaughn, guitar
Larry Veeder, guitar
Henry Vestine, guitar
Muddy Waters, guitar
Alan Wilson, guitar, harmonica
Robert Young, guitar
Charles Brown, piano
Clifford Coulter, keyboards
John Griffith, piano
Vernon Harrison, piano
Ernie Hayes, organ, piano
'Ivy' Joe Hunter, piano
Johnnie Johnson, piano
Booker T Jones, organ
Deacon Jones, organ
Lafayette Leake, organ, piano
Tom Parker, organ, piano
Bill Payne, keyboards
Jimmy Pugh, keyboards
Boogie Woogie Red, piano
John Sanders, piano
Memphis Slim, piano
Otis Spann, piano
Chester Thompson, keyboards
Bob Thurman, piano
T-Bone Walker, piano
James Watkins, piano
Dan Zemelman, piano
John 'Luke' Logan, harmonica
Louis Myers, harmonica
Hele Rosenthal, harmonica
Mac Arnold, bass
Antonio de la Barreda, bass
Ollan Christopher Bell, bass
Richard Cousins, bass
Maurice Cridlin, bass
Pete Cruickshank, bass
Ruth Davies, bass
Willie Dixon, bass
Steve Ehrmann, bass
William Folwell, bass
Jim Guyett, bass
Larry Hamilton, bass
Sylvester Hickman, bass
Milt Hinton, bass
James Jamerson, bass
Sam Jones, bass
Nick Lowe, bass
Conrad Lozano, bass
Reggie McBride, bass
Benny Rietveld, bass
Theophilus Roosevelt, bass
Gino Skaggs, bass
Joe Thomas, bass
George Washington, bass
Quinn Wilson, bass
Fred Below, drums
Benny Benjamin, drums
Gaylord Birch, drums
Victor Bisetti, drums
Dave Boorman, drums
Bowen Brown, drums
Ndugu Chancler, drums
Francis Clay, drums
Al Duncan, drums
Curtis Foster, drums
Panama Francis, drums
Marlon Green, drums
Kevin Hayes, drums
Louis Hayes, drums
Jump Jackson, drums
Jim Keltner, drums
S.P. Leary, drums
Scott Mathews, drums
Everett McCrary, drums
Adolfo de la Parra, drums
Earl Phillips, drums
Bernard Purdie, drums
Tim Richards, drums
Ken Swank, drums
Jimmy Turner, drums
Tom Whitehead, drums
Kevin Williams, drums
Chepito Areas, timbales
Randy McBride, percussion
Armando Peraza, congas
Karl Perazzo, timbales
Raul Rekow, congas
Zakiya Hooker, vocals
Looking For A Party
Blues Express 11610
recorded in Burbank, CA/USA
Long John Hunter, guitar, vocals
Tom Peterson, tenor sax
Ira Nepus, trombone
Lee Thornburg, trumpet
Alan Mirikitani, guitar
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Richard Cousin, bass
Lee Spath, drums, cowbell
The Devil You Know
Alligator Records ALCD 4958
recorded in Falls Church, VA; Hollywood, CA; San Rafael, CA; Northampton, MA; Kansas City, MO; Sausalito, CA; Studio City, CA/USA
Tommy Castro, guitar, vocals
Tab Benoit, guitar, vocals
Joe Bonamassa, guitar
Mark Karan, guitar
Mike Finnigan, organ
Jimmy Pugh, organ
Marcia Ball, piano, vocals
Mike Duke, piano, vocals
James Pace, keyboards, vocals
Bonnie Hayes, Wurlitzer piano
Magic Dick, harmonica
Randy McDonald, bass, vocals
Byron Cage, drums, vocals
Vicki Randle, percussion
Tasha Taylor, vocals
Samantha Fish, vocals
The Real Deal
Little Village Foundation LVF 1005
recorded in San Jose, CA/USA
John Blues Boyd, vocals
Terry Hanck, sax
Frankie Ramos, sax
Doug Rowan, sax
Eric Spaulding, sax
Faris Jarrah, trombone
Manny Angel, trumpet
John Halbleib, trumpet
Chris "Kid" Andersen, guitar, organ, piano, bass
Big Jon Atkinson, guitar
Robert Welsh, guitar, organ, piano
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Rick Estrin, harp
Aki Kumar, harp
Danny Michel, bass
Dave Chavez, bass
Derrick D'mar Martin, drums
Donnie Green, drums
Jon Atkinson, drums
June Core, drums
Martin Windstad, drums
The Beat Of My Heart
Big Song Music
recorded in Studio City, CA/USA
Lisa Biales, vocals
Tom Peterson, baritone sax
Joe Sublett, sax
Lee Thornburg, trombone
Darrell Leonard, trumpet
Paul Brown, guitar
Johnny Lee Schell, guitar, fiddle
Jim Pugh, Hammond B-3, organ, Wurlitzer piano
Chuck Berghofer, bass
Larry Fulcher, bass
Larry Taylor, bass
Tony Braunagel, drums, percussion
Wally Ingram, tambourine
Never Too Soon
Little Village Foundation LVF 1018
recorded in San Jose, CA/USA
Marina Crouse, vocals
Aaron Lington, baritone sax
John Halbleib, trumpet
Chris "Kid" Andersen, guitar
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Aki Kumar, harp
Randy Bermudez, bass
Steve Evans, bass
Derrick D'mar Martin, drums
Martin Windstad, percussion
Everybody Needs Love
Little Village Foundation LVF 1019
recorded in San Jose, CA/USA
Marcel Smith, guitar, vocals
Jack Sanford, sax
Nancy Wright, sax
John Halbleib, trumpet
Chris "Kid" Andersen, guitar, bass, percussion
Stevie Gurr, guitar
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Endre Tarczy, Wurlitzer piano, bass
Rick Estrin, harmonica
Quantae Johnson, bass
Robby Yamilov, bass
Alex Pettersen, drums
Wee Willie Walker, vocals
The High Cost Of Low Living
Alligator Records ALCD 4981
recorded in Elgin, IL/USA
Nick Moss, guitar, vocals
Eric Spaulding, tenor sax
Jack Sanford, baritone sax
Chris "Kid" Andersen, guitar
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Taylor Streiff, piano
Dennis Gruenling, harmonica, vocals
Nick Fane, bass
Patrick Seals, drums
A Woman Rules The World
Little Village Foundation LVF 1021
recorded in San Jose, CA/USA
Whitney Shay, vocals
Gordon Beadle, sax
John Halblieb, trumpet
Igor Prado, guitar
Kid Andersen, guitar, sitar
Jimmy Pugh, piano, organ
Aki Kumar, harmonica
Kedar Roy, bass
Robert Alexander Pettersen, drums
Derrick Martin, percussion
Bad Tattoo
Vizztone FD81041
recorded June through November 2018 in San Jose, CA/USA
Mighty Mike Schermer, guitar, vocals
Eric Bernhardt, tenor sax, baritone sax
Nancy Wright, tenor sax
Chris Cain, guitar, piano
Chris "Kid" Andersen, organ, bass
Austin DeLone, Farfisa organ, piano
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Tony Stead, organ, piano
Bob Welsh, piano
Rick Estrin, harmonica
Aki Kumar, harmonica
Steve Ehrmann, bass
Alex Pettersen, drums
Derrick D'mar Martin, drums, percussion
Paul Revelli, drums, percussion
Dennis Dove, congas, vocals
Contemporary
Alligator Records ALCD 4996
recorded in San Jose, CA/USA
Rick Estrin, harmonica, vocals
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Lorenzo Farrell, organ, piano
Kid Andersen, guitar, synthesizer, bass, percussion
Quantae Johnson, bass
Alex Pettersen, drums
Derrick D'Mar Martin, drums, percussion
Found! One Soul Singer
Little Village Foundation LVF1037

Sonny Green, vocals
Aaron Lington, tenor sax, baritone sax
Gordon "Sax" Beadle, sax
Terry Hanck, sax
Mike Rinta, trombone
Jeff Lewis, trumpet
Kid Anderson, guitar
Jim Pugh, Hammond B-3 organ
Chris Burns, clavinet, piano
Mariachi Mestizo, violin
Endre Tarczy, bass
D'Mar, drums
Ronnie Smith, drums
All My Dues Are Paid
Nola Blue Records CDNB010

Frank Bey, vocals
Eric Spaulding, tenor sax
Nancy Wright, tenor sax
Jack Sanford, baritone sax
Ric Feliciano, trombone
John Halbleib, trumpet
Kid Anderson, guitar, baritone guitar, organ, percussion, vocals
Rome Yamilov, guitar
Lorenzo Farrell, Wurlitzer piano, organ
Jim Pugh, organ, Fener Rhodes, Wurlitzer piano, piano
Jeremy Jemmott, bass
Paul Olguin, bass
Derrick 'D'mar' Martin, drums
Alex Pettersen, drums
Paul Revelli, drums
Vicki Randle, percussion
Martin Windstad, percussion
Lisa Leuschner Andersen, vocals
Damage Control
Alligator Records ALCD 5002
recorded in Studio City, CA; San Jose, CA; Nashville, TN; Portland, OR; Maurice, LA/USA
Spotify Bandcamp
Curtis Salgado, harmonica, vocals
Michael Bard, tenor sax
Gary Harris, tenor sax
Tim Bryson, baritone sax
Chris "Kid" Andersen, guitar, bass
Dave Gross, guitar
Alan Hager, guitar
George Marinelli, guitar
Johnny Lee Schell, guitar, bass
Mike Finnigan, organ, piano
Kevin McKendree, organ, piano
Jackie Miclau, piano
Jim Pugh, organ, piano
Jerry Jemmott, bass
Tommy MacDonald, bass
Mark Winchester, bass
Tony Braunagel, drums
Jack Bruno, drums
Kevin Hayes, drums
Wayne Toups, vocals

 
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