Shakey Jake

b. James D. Harris, 12 April 1921, Earle, Arkansas, USA, d. 2 March 1990, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. A professional gambler when not playing harmonica (his nickname was derived from the crapshooters' call ‘Shake 'em, Jake'), Harris began playing in Chicago blues bands during the late 40s. His 1958 single ‘Call Me If You Need Me'/‘Roll Your Moneymaker', recorded for the Artistic subsidiary of Cobra Records, featured guitar work by his nephew Magic Sam. During the 60s he recorded two albums that did not do him justice, as club recordings with Sam make evident. His encouragement ...