Witherspoon delivers a set of blues standards with his signature blend of gruff vocals and boogie-woogie piano backing. This album captures the singer in his element, revisiting the styles that made him a legend.
- The album was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Jerry Moss. It features a prominent role for pianist Don Abney. Witherspoon's recording career began in the 1940s.
- "Roots" was released on the Heart & Soul Records label. The album features a collection of blues standards. Witherspoon was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Recording in 1987 for this album.
- The album was recorded in 1985. It was released on March 16, 1986. The genre is blues and rhythm and blues.
Jimmy Witherspoon was a blues singer from Gurdon, Arkansas, known for his boogie-woogie style and his jazz-influenced phrasing. "Roots" was released late in his career, by which time he had long been established as a foundational figure in blues.
Tracklist
