Paul White, Randy Joe Fullerton, Jimi Schutte
(Luther Allison Band 1972
)
(photo courtesy of "Fat" Richard Drake)
American Blues Poster
Lifetime Achievement Award Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine
AmericanBluesBand YouTube.com
(bold are upcoming gigs)
Past events
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) (Europe '83-'85), 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).
Throughout all he has been playing with Jimmy Dawkins doing a number of festivals in the USA such as the Chicago Blues Festival, Long Beach Blues Festival, San Francisco Blues Festival, and many others.
He continues to be an in demand blues drummer for leading Blues artists, recently (2014) working with John Primer, Robert Stroger, Perry Weber, Rockin' Johnny Burgin, Smilin' Bobby, Glenn Davis, Joe Moss, Billy Flynn, Danny Draher, Scotty & the Bad Boys, Rick Kraher, Luca Chiellini, Steve Arvey, Marie Martens, Joel Paterson, Tom Holland, Dave Wood, Mike Morrison, Amy Ashby, Dave Potter, Toronzo Cannon, Billy Flynn, Rockin' Johnny Burgin, R.J. Mischo, and others as well as being the anchor in the Jim Liban Blues Combo. (2000-2015)
I started playing Blues professionally in 1969, and by 1972 was on the road with Luther Allison & Band.
It was also around this time that 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. Left on a plane for Chicago on Monday. This album garnered the "Grand Prix du Disque" from Hot Club de France as well as the "Big Bill Broonzy Award" in 1981.
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 called "The American Living Blues Festival Live in Europe 1982". Thought I would stay for a couple of weeks longer after the tour. That turned into almost 5 yrs., eventually playing with my old friend Luther Allison when he moved to Paris in '83. Many thanks to all of my friends whom I still enjoy knowing, and visiting.
Check out my Biography page for more information....
First and foremost, I've been playing drums in the Blues world going on 45yrs. For the last decade or so I've been playing with Jim Liban in Milwaukee, WI.
I book a number of players under "American Blues", always a quality group of musicians/entertainers... featuring Rockin' Johnny Burgin, Billy Flynn, Dave Potter, Larry Byrne, Mike Morrison, Studebaker John, Robert Stroger, Jim Liban, and a host of others. Please feel free to contact me for a booking. JimSchutte@gymshoe.com
I've been involved in Internet related activities for 30 yrs now. Mostly building / creating websites, as well as teaching at MATC.
I taught Digital Media in the School of Media & Creative Arts at MATC (Milwaukee Area Technical College) including Adobe PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator. I also taught Website Development (handcoding), and Website development using Dreamweaver at MATC since 2000. I'm a certified instructor in VICOM (Visual Communications) with the Wisconsin Technical College System through July 2018.
