JJ Cale

About

Known for songs After Midnight, Cocaine, Clyde, and Call Me the Breeze. He was one of the pioneers of the Tulsa Sound.

Before Fame

He was given his nickname by Elmer Valentine of Sunset Strip nightclub Whisky a Go Go so he wouldn't be confused with John Cale of Velvet Underground.

Trivia

His songs were covered by Kansas, Santana, Eric Clapton, Phish, Jerry Garcia, Waylon Jennings, Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Mayer, and many others.

Family Life

He grew up with one sister in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Associated With

He turned down an opportunity to appear on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, because he didn't want to lip-synch his popular Crazy Mama hit or perform it without his band.