Researching James Cotton

Cotton began his professional career playing the blues harp in Howlin' Wolf's band in the early 1950s. He made his first recordings in Memphis for Sun Records, under the direction of Sam Phillips. In 1955, he was recruited by Muddy Waters to come to Chicago and join his band. Cotton became Waters's bandleader and stayed with the group until 1965. In 1965 he formed the Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet, with Otis Spann on piano, to record between gigs with the Muddy Waters band. He eventually left to form his own full-time touring group. His first full album, on Verve Records, was produced by the guitarist Mike Bloomfield and the singer and songwriter Nick Gravenites, who later were members of the band Electric Flag.

In the 1970s, Cotton played harmonica on Muddy Waters' Grammy Award–winning 1977 album Hard Again, produced by Johnny Winter.

Cotton was born in Los Angeles, California, and played basketball at Artesia High School in Lakewood before transferring to St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower. He played college basketball at Long Beach State. Cotton requested he be redshirted at the university.

Cotton, a 6' 5" (1.96 m) shooting guard, left Long Beach State early and was selected with the fourth pick of the second round (32nd pick overall) in the 1997 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. His rights were then traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in a swap for the draft rights to Bobby Jackson.

He was used sparingly by the Sonics over two seasons until he and Hersey Hawkins were involved in a player trade to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Brent Barry on August 12, 1999. Cotton was waived by the Bulls prior to the commencement of the 1999-2000 NBA season. He also played with the West Sydney Razorbacks in the Australian National Basketball League.

Cotton's younger brother, Schea, also became a pro basketball player.

He was the son of George Cotton, Dean of Chester, uncle of George Cotton, Bishop of Calcutta and the first cousin of Sir Stapleton Cotton. He was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge, and ordained shortly after graduating. By 1810 he was junior vicar and precentor of Bangor Cathedral, and as such was responsible for the fabric of the building. In the same year he married Mary Anne Majendie, daughter of Henry Majendie, the Bishop of Bangor; they had one son. During the 1820s, the cathedral was restored and rearranged to allow for services in both Welsh and English. He also served as rector of St Tyfrydog's Church, Llandyfrydog.

Cotton took a great interest in local education, setting up Sunday schools and day schools in several parishes within the diocese. In 1848 he was a founder member of the Bangor Diocesan Board of Education, formed after the notorious "Blue Books". After the death of his first wife, he married Mary Laurens. The younger of their two daughters married Evan Lewis, later Dean of Bangor. Dean Cotton was buried in Bangor Cathedral.

James Cotton was born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States to James Graham and Catherine Cotton. He lettered in football, basketball, baseball at Collinwood High School. Cotton earned all-state honours in football and baseball and All-American honours in football.

Cotton is the founder of the Buck-Icon Foundation. Its mission is to provide resources for former members of the Ohio State football program to enhance their careers on a variety of different levels and provide programs that will help them transition into professional life in Corporate America, Athletics, Society, and the Community.

Cotton received an Associate of Arts degree from City College of San Francisco and The Ohio State University awarded him a bachelor's degree in Sociology. As a Junior, Cotton was an instrumental part of the Buckeyes Big Ten Championship and Sugar Bowl Victory over Texas A&M in 1998. During his senior season in 1999, Cotton was voted by his coaches as the team's Most Outstanding Lineman by leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss. "My most memorable moment was being the last player sack Tom Brady Twice in the Big House".

In 2000, Cotton was drafted in the NFL by the Chicago Bears and played 1 year of professional football with no game action or career stats in the NFL. He had stops in Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, and the Canadian Football League (2001 Grey Cup Champion). A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Cotton is the father of his daughters, Kierra Cotton and Veronica Snyder.