Jim McCarty

James William McCarty (born June 1, 1945) is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train. Since about 2014 Jim McCarty has joined forces with Detroit blues guitarist/songwriter Kenny Parker in The Kenny Parker Band along with several other veteran Detroit blues/rock musicians. He also makes guest appearances with other Detroit bands.

He also recorded with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Seger. He plays in a heavy blues-rock style that has inspired fledgling guitar players for more than 40 years.

In an August 2006 interview on VH1 Classic, Ted Nugent remarked "I'm the only guy in rock'n'roll that plays that hollow body jazz guitar (a Gibson Byrdland) and it's because in 1960 I saw Jimmy McCarty creating those big fat full chords like I do on "Stranglehold"; I learned that from Jimmy McCarty. Remember the name Jimmy McCarty. He is as important as Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry and Les Paul...a god on guitar."

Biography 2006 – present In 2005, Les Paul recorded Les Paul and Friends: American Made, World Played, with an all-star band. He covered "69 Freedom Special", an instrumental tune co-written by McCarty and recorded while in the Buddy Miles Express. In February 2006, Les Paul won a Grammy for his cover of the song, thus propelling McCarty into another award-winning arena as songwriter.

In 2006, he participated in a Cactus reunion, performing in New York City, Sweden, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. It coincided with the release of a new Cactus album, Cactus V. In 2007, Cactus played a Detroit date, a McCarty homecoming, to a sold-out, standing-room-only house. After two years in Cactus he left the band: "There were some great moments, but then there was a lot of banging heads together. Eventually I left because it was a frustrating experience for me"

In 2009, a new band, the Hell Drivers, was created. The members are Jim McCarty, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, Marvin Conrad (bass), and Jim Edwards (vocals). They play a variety of Detroit rock and roll from Iggy Pop, The Rockets, Mitch Ryder, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger and more.

On September 25, 2010, Jim McCarty was inducted into the Canada South Blues Society "Living Blues Museum" located in Windsor, Ontario.

Jim McCarty and Carmine Appice reunited Cactus once again in 2011. This line up included singer Jimmy Kunes, bassist Pete Bremy from Vanilla Fudge, and Randy Pratt on harmonica. This incarnation lasted five years producing two live albums, TKO Tokyo: Live in Japan, An Evening in Tokyo, and a studio album, Black Dawn. They toured the United States, Europe and Japan. McCarty and Bremy left the band in late 2016.

Selective discography

Buddy Miles Express

• Expressway to Your Skull (1968) Mercury Records, BGO Records

Tracks: Train Let Your Love Light Shine Don't Mess with Cupid Funky Mule You're the One (That I Adore) Wrap It Up Spot on the Wall

• Electric Church (1969) Mercury Records; BGO Records

Tracks: Miss Lady 69 Freedom Special Cigarettes & Coffee Destructive Love Texas My Chant Wrap It Up

Several tracks of Electric Church were produced by Jimi Hendrix including McCarty's Grammy winning song, "69 Freedom Special".

Freedom Express

. Easy Ridin' (1969) Mercury Records

Tracks: Got to Get Your Lovin' Who Can We Depend On? 7-1/2 I Just Started Livin' I Just Want to Be Me You Never Get Too Big Born to Be Wild Tomorrow is Promised (To No One) Don't Bogart Me The Pusher

Cactus

• Cactus (1970) Atco Records; Wounded Bird Records

Tracks: Parchman Farm My Lady from South of Detroit Bro. Bill You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover Let Me Swim No Need to Worry Oleo Feel So Good

• One Way... or Another (1971) Atco; Wounded Bird

Tracks: Long Tall Sally Rockout, Whatever You Feel Like Rock 'N' Roll Children Big Mama Boogie, Pt. 1 & 2 Feel So Bad Song for Aries Hometown Bust One Way... Or Another

• Restrictions (1972) Atco; Wounded Bird

Tracks: Restrictions Token Chokin' Guiltless Glider Evil Alaska Sweet Sixteen Bag Drag Mean Night in Cleveland

• Cactus V (2006) Escapi Records

Tracks: Doing Time Muscle and Soul Cactus Music The Groover( High in the City Day for Night Living for Today Shine Electric Blue Your Brother's Helper Blues for Mr. Day Part of the Game Gone Train Gone Jazzed

• Black Dawn (2016) Sunset Blvd. Records

Tracks Black Dawn Mama Bring It Home Dynamite Juggernaut Headed For a Fall You Need Love The Last Goodbye Walk a Mile Another Way or Another C-70 Blues

Jimi Hendrix

• Nine To The Universe (1980) Reprise Records

Tracks played on: "Jimi/Jimmy Jam"

The Rockets • Rockets (1977) Guinness Records

Tracks: Lufrania Juke-Box Daddy Rocket Car Wash Blues Feel Alright Rock 'N' Roll Working Man Blues Thing In "D"

• Love Transfusion (1977) Tortoise International/RCA Records

Tracks: Fast Thing In "D"etroit Fell Out Of Love My Heart Needs You Lookin' For Love I Got To Move Ramona Fly Little Bird Love Transfusion She's A Pretty One

• Rockets (Turn Up the Radio) (1979) RSO Records

Tracks: Can't Sleep Turn Up The Radio Oh Well Lost Forever, Left For Dreaming Long Long Gone Love Me Once Again Something Ain't Right Lucille Feel Alright

• No Ballads (1980) RSO Records

Tracks Desire Don't Hold On Restless Sally Can't Dance Takin' It Back Time After Time Sad Songs I Want You To Love Me Is It True Troublemaker

• Back Talk (1981) Elektra Records

Tracks: Back Talk Jealous Lift You Up Shanghaied Love For Hire I Can't Get Satisfied Tired Of Wearing Black I'll Be Your Lover American Dreams Lie To Me

• Rocket Roll (1982) Elektra Records

Tracks: Rollin' By The Record Machine Rock 'N Roll Girl Gonna Crash (I Wanna) Testify Gimme Your Love Born In Detroit All Night Long Kid With The Heart Rollin' And Tumblin' Mean Streets

• Live Rockets (1983) Capitol Records

Tracks: Rollin' By The Record Machine Desire Can't Sleep Sally Can't Dance Takin' It Back Open The Door To Your Heart Oh Well Turn Up The Radio Born In Detroit

Detroit Blues Band

• Real Life (1990) Blues Factory Records

Tracks: Back On my Feet Again My Life Is Ruined Luann Go Downtown She Knows It Goin' back to Memphis Scandalous Behavior Walkin Out The Door Treat Me Right

• Can't Get You Off My Mind (1995) No Cover Productions

Tracks: Sister's Got a Lover Tell Me Every Day I Have the Blues Won't You Consider Missing You She Winked Her Eye Too Close for Comfort East Side Gal Tears from My Eyes Can't Get You off My Mind

Mystery Train

• Love Lost (1998) No Cover Productions

Tracks: I Need You Your Loss Now I'm all alone Where were you baby? Allman Joy Hold it right there Love is a Rough Business Come back to me I'll never turn my back on you Cold wind

• Lexus: Live at the Detroit International Auto Show (2002)

Tracks: Rock with Me Honey Hush Need Your Love So Bad T-Bone shuffle As the years go passing by Help Me Standing on shaky ground Oh Well

• Kenny Parker: Hellfire (2019) Rock-a-While Records

Tracks: I've Got My Eye On You Baby Come Back To Me Blind And Paralyzed Bye Bye Baby Hellfire Goin In Circles Dance With Me I'm Missing You But Then We Danced Half Crazy Back Up Plan Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty