With a career spanning four decades, acclaimed bassist and front-man, Jimmy Pritchard has established himself as a true force in today's blues scene.
It all started at age 11 when Jimmy saw B.B. King appear on an episode of Sanford & Son. Eyes-wide, this moment was something he would never forget. Just a few years later, he was able to pick up his first bass.
After playing most of the 80s supporting heavy metal guitarist Vinnie Moore, Pritchard felt a calling to return to the blues. The 90s saw him touring throughout the U.S, Canada, and Europe, supporting acts such as Sonny Rhodes, Georgie Bonds and the Blueskeepers, Socco, and Lonnie Shields.
As his reputation grew into the 2000s, he found himself in ever-increasing demand. Artists like Big Jack Johnson, Richard Ray Farrell, and Roger Girke asked him to accompany them on tour. This is also the time when he established a long-time friendship and working relationship with harmonica ace, Mikey Junior.
Jimmy's first effort as a front-man was the well-received, "Shopping for the Blues" album from 2004. The North Jersey Blues and Jazz society nominated the recording for The Blue Foundation's CD competition. Six years later, he followed up with the impressive, "Goin' Down 9", which was nominated by the Diamond State Blues Society to The Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge CD Competition.
The bassman backed Mikey Junior at the 2011 International Blues Challenge, where they reached the semi-finals. In 2012 they returned to the IBCs, this time reaching the finals. For 2014, he returned once again, but this time with the Jimmy Pritchard Band, again reaching the semi-finals.
A gig with Florida's blues-rock heavyweight Albert Castiglia took Pritchard away from the spotlight for the next three years
The blues veteran returned to the northeast and resumed front-man duties for his 2019 release, "Meet Me in Memphis." The all-star lineup includes guitarist J.P. Soars, and percussionist Chris Peet. Guest appearances on the album include guitarists Albert Castiglia and Paul DesLauriers, bassist Greg Morency, drummer Sam Harrisson, harp players Rockin' Jake, Albert "Big Daddy" Lambertson, and Mikey Junior, keyboard player and Allman Brothers alum Johnny Neel, and the vocals of Rachelle Coba. The Jimmy Pritchard Band is now touring in support of this album.
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