The family has written a beautiful obituary, which I encourage you to read in full below. Lydia Liebman
James Blood Ulmer
February 8, 1940 - June 3, 2026
With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist, singer, composer, and beloved family member. James died peacefully on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the age of 86.
Born on February 8, 1940, the eldest of eight children, Blood grew up in rural, deeply segregated St. Matthews, South Carolina. His father, a Baptist preacher, gave him his first guitar when he was four years old. Raised on church music, James’s first professional gig was singing gospel with his father’s vocal quartet, the Southern Sons. When his voice changed, he turned to the guitar and found inspiration in Chuck Berry and the blues — music his god-fearing parents condemned as “devil’s music.”
After graduating from high school, James left home at eighteen and migrated north to Pittsburgh, where he married, had two children, Greg and Donna, and found work accompanying doo-wop groups like the Del Vikings on guitar. He soon began touring throughout the United States and performing in Europe.
Following his time in Pittsburgh, James moved to Columbus, Ohio — a surprisingly strong jazz town that boasts local heroes Art Tatum and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He later relocated to Detroit, where his third child, Michael, was born. For the next five years, James stayed off the road and taught music while playing local clubs with drummer Doug Hammond in Focus Novii. After receiving the cold shoulder from his hero, Wes Montgomery, Blood began developing his own musical language, determined to sound like no one else.
In 1971, James moved once again, this time to New York, where his guitar caught the ear of legendary avant-garde jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He soon joined Coleman’s harmolodic funk band, Prime Time.
Among Blood’s discography of over 25 genre-bending albums are his milestone records: 1980’s Are You Glad to Be in America? (which featured Blood’s classic song which asked his listeners the quintessential question) Free Lancing (1981), Black Rock (1982), and Odyssey (1983). More recently James returned to singing roots music with Memphis Blood in 2001 and Bad Blood in the City, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2007.
The late music critic Greg Tate once described James as “the missing link between Jimi Hendrix and [his favorite guitarist] Wes Montgomery on one hand, and P-Funk and Mississippi Fred McDowell on the other.”
Following Blood’s final concert at the Detroit Jazz Festival on September 1, 2024, his health began to decline, and he entered a quieter season away from the road and the stage.
Beyond his lifelong dedication to music, Blood was a father to six children: Greg, Donna, Michael, Gia, Damu and Nisa. He was also the proud grandfather of twelve grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
To the world, James Blood Ulmer was a legend, a visionary, and a musical force whose sound was distinctive and unique. To his family, he was their teacher, their storyteller, and a source of strength. To Eva, his wife and partner, James was her rock, her hero, and her beloved companion of sixteen years. His music was fearless, and so was his spirit.
A private funeral will be held on Monday June 8, 2026, There will be a public celebration of James’s life in the near future, so stay tuned. Please respect our privacy at this time and play Blood’s music LOUD!
The Family of James Blood Ulmer
1 comment :
Been a big fan since listening to 'are you glad to be in america' as a callow jazz-funkateer many years ago, though I tended to think of this as funk-jazz. I've had just about all of his albums at one time or another, on one format or another and got to see him about a decade ago at Rich Mix, as part of the London Jazz Festival. I recall turning to my companion - a massive Iggy Pop fan - suggesting 'Raw Power'.
Post a Comment