Jim McCarty
broke onto the music scene as guitarist for "Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels"
in 1964 and from '64 thru '66 they charted with the songs "Jenny Take a Ride"
(..4), "Devil With a Blue Dress On" (..2) and "Sock It to Me" (..4). When Mitch
Ryder decided that he wanted to turn the group into a Las Vegas act, McCarty
knew it was time for a change.
Jim moved on to join up with Cory Siegal and the "Siegal Schwall Blues Band"
and, on a trip to the west coast, he met Buddy Miles. Buddy was coming off the
"electric Flag" and putting his own band together and Buddy asked Jim to join
the Buddy Miles Express. McCarty accepted because he wanted to work with the
"Big Sound" of horn section. Jim recorded two albums with the "Buddy Miles
Express," the latter being produced by Jimi Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix was around quite a bit and he was talking to Buddy about putting a
band together. "It was a little intimidating," McCarty remembers, "doing guitar
overdubs with Hendrix in the studio but he was a 'Mitch Ryder and Detroit
Wheels' fan so it was cool." Jim had the chance to play with Hendrix on quite a
few occasions with the most memorable being in L.A. with players that included
Jimi Hendrix, Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Miles and Jim!
With the end of Vanilla Fudge in late '69 Jim was approached by Carmine and Tim
to form Cactus. McCarty was heavy into Jeff Beck's first two albums (Truth and
Beck Ola) so it seemed like good timing. The band recorded three albums and
broke up because of different views about the direction of the music, but the
music Cactus made had a strong cult following which still exists today.
With the end of Cactus in '72, McCarty moved back to Detroit and put the
"Rockets" together with his old drummer from the "Wheels" the legendary Johnny
Bee Badanjek. The band cut six albums and toured constantly with artists such as
ZZ Top, Bob Seger, KISS, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, The Who, The Cars, to name a few. The Rockets
were together for ten years, but Jim was feeling a strong desire to play the
kind of music that had always been close to his heart, the Blues. With the end
of the Rockets, Jim joined the Detroit Blues Band. Jim stayed with the Detroit
Blues Band for eight years and they ultimately recorded four CDs.
New things were on the horizon for Jim when a new blues club called the Memphis
Smoke opened. They asked Jim to put together a house band and Jim saw this as an
opportunity to put together a band with musicians of his choice. The band that
resulted was named Mystery Train and are still together today with four CDs to
their credit. Jim is at home with Mystery Train playing his brand of blues and
rock.
Detroit Rock and Roll Revue - Desire
Jim McCarty & Willie D. Warren - Hoochie Coochie Man (Rare Video)
Cactus - One Way or Another (Live @ B.B. Kings, New York)
Reunion 6-3-2006
Duke Robillard with Jim McCarty & Johnny Bee @ Callahan's in Auburn Hills, MI
Duke Robillard with Jim McCarty & Johnny Bee @ Callahan's in Auburn Hills, MI - Let it Rock
Duke Robillard with Jim McCarty & Johnny Bee @ Callahan's in Auburn Hills, MI
Jim McCarty & Friends @ Dylan's Raw Grille in Grosse Pointe (Detroit) Michigan: Drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek (Detroit Wheels; The Rockets); Bassist David Hull (Joe Perry Project; Buddy Miles Express; first part of the 2006 Aerosmith Tour); Dynamic, legendary blues musician - James Montgomery - on harmonica and lead vocals.
Smokin' Moses with Special Guest Jim McCarty
Myspace Backgrounds
Jim McCarty & Mystery Train | Arkadaşlar (En İyi 40)
Jim McCarty & Mystery Train, 1575 kişiyle arkadaş.
hi guys ! from France The Reverend send you one picture of dream with Carmine and Tim. That was at Olympia in PARIS (2005) where Vanilla Fudje and I played. Respect & Rock to you. Special mention to Jim Mc Carty..that unfortunetaly I never met.
"Lewy is currently involved in playing drums for The Exitwound Project and is available for recording with many others."
Also, please be sure to check out "Lewy's" new project to help drummers and their favorite charities called "Drum Solo Cards" at www.drmsolocards.com Tell your friends and send all the drummers that you know to look them up.
Thanks for the add Jim, I'm a brand new "Cactus" fan, great shit man! "One Way or Another" is my favorite! Hope to hear your new stuff soon. Much respect and take care.
Laury J. Ward (the best one handed guitar player in the world!) : )
Online!
