Jimi Schutte has been the go-to "Blues" drummer for countless national Blues bands dating back as far as the early 1970's. He has worked with Luther Allison ('72-'75), Jimmy Dawkins('76-2013), Jr. Wells, Sunnyland Slim, Magic Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Lonnie Brooks('85-'89),and later opening shows with Lonnie Brooks for Stevie Ray Vaughn and friends... just a few of the many great players.

Moving to Paris in '82 he worked with many Blues greats, touring in Europe, including Luther Allison ('83-'85), Jimmy Dawkins, Larry Davis, Blues with the Girls Tour - featuring Zora Young, LaVelle White, and Jeanne Carroll, and a host of others. Returning to the U.S.A. Jimi settled into Chicago, Ill., where he began playing with Lonnie Brooks Band in 1986, touring and playing on two albums with Lonnie. ("Wound Up Tight", Alligator Records & "Bayou Lightning Strikes Again, Live in Chicago", Alligator Records).

He continues to be an in demand blues drummer for leading Blues artists, recently working with John Primer, Mike Wheeler, A.J. Love, Glenn Davis, Toronzo Cannon, Billy Flynn, Rockin' Johnny Burgin, R.J. Mischo, and others as well as being the anchor in the Jim Liban Blues Combo.

I started playing Blues professionally in 1969 and went on the road with Luther Allison in 1972.

I met Jimmy Dawkins somewhere around '74-'75 and was playing in his band by 1977. Jimmy passed away April 10, 2013. He was a partner and mentor. The honesty of his music and the opportunity to play/work/know him, has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. Another one of the greatest adventures of my life, and more importantly, was being his friend.

Most of the time that Jimmy and I logged over the years on the road, I took a camera of some sort with me. Many times just an old Kodak card-board camera, whatever was available if mine wasn't nearby. At the time I had no idea how much these photos would mean to me.

The band members when I arrived ('77) were Jimmy Dawkins (vocals and guitar), Sylvester Boines (bass), Rich Kirch (guitar).

In the spring of '81 the Jimmy Dawkins Band toured Europe. Six weeks of one nighters. What fun we had, recording "Hot Wire '81" on short notice at the end of the tour at Davout Studios in Paris, on a Sunday afternoon. Left on a plane for Chicago on Monday. This album garnered the "Hot Club Prix du France" award as well as the "Big Bill Broonzy Award" that year.

The Jimmy Dawkins Band went back to Europe in '82 with The American Living Blues Festival. The members of the ensemble were Jimmy Dawkins, Queen Sylvia Embry, Lester Davenport, Lafayette Leake, Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers, Abb Locke, Sylvester Boines, Rich Kirch, and Jimi Schutte. Live double album recorded call "The American Living Blues Festival Live in Europe 1982". It was after the tour in "82 that I moved to Paris. Many thanks to all of my friends whom I still enjoy knowing, and visiting.

Check out my Biography page for more information....