J.J. Cale

JJ Cale, born John Weldon Cale on 5 December 1938, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Oklahoma, widely regarded as one of the originators of the «Tulsa Sound» — a loose, rootsy blend of blues, rockabilly and country. His music was defined by an understated, laid-back groove and lyrics often described as laconic, matching the persona of a musician who consistently avoided the spotlight; he didn't even allow his picture on the cover of his first six albums.

Cale rarely toured or gave interviews and had little interest in mainstream pop stardom, describing himself simply: «I was a songwriter. I wasn't really much of an entertainer.» Even so, his songs became widely known through other artists' versions — most famously Eric Clapton's covers of «After Midnight» and «Cocaine», and Lynyrd Skynyrd's «Call Me the Breeze» — which helped define his reputation as a songwriter's songwriter far beyond his own modest commercial profile.

Over his career he released 14 studio albums and one live album, along with «The Road to Escondido», a full collaborative record with Eric Clapton. Songs such as «Magnolia», «Sensitive Kind», «Crazy Mama» and «Don't Go to Strangers» remain staples of his catalogue. JJ Cale died on 26 July 2013, leaving behind a quiet but deeply influential body of work that shaped the sound of American roots rock for decades.