James was natural Elmore Brooks around Richland, Mississippi, 50 miles north of Jackson (does'nt to exist as confused by using a second Richland upright south of Jackson). He began swimming as a teenager, under a list "Cleanhead" & "Joe Willie James," alongside musicians prefer Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, and Robert Johnson. In the period of World War II James joined the Navy and was stationed in Guam.

Upon his discharge Elmore returned to central Mississippi & at length settled within Canton. He began recording sustaining Trumpet Records in nearby Jackson in January 1951, number one when sideman to Alec "Sonny Boy Williamson [II]" Miller & others, so debuting as a session leader inside August by owning what became his signature song, "Dust My Broom." It was the surprise R&B hit in 1952 and turned James into a star. His "I Believe" was a second hit a year late. In a period of the Fifties he recorded for the Bihari Brothers' Flair and Modern labels, besides when for Chess Records. His backing musicians were referred to as a Broomdusters. Within 1959 he began recording what are possibly his better sides for Bobby Robinson's Fire Records label. These include "The Sky Is Crying" (credited to Elmo James & His Broomdusters), "Stranger Blues," "Look On Yonder Wall," "Done Somebody Wrong," & "Shake Your Moneymaker," tons of which are then among a best known of blues recordings.

A slide guitar riff from either "Dust My Broom" is one of a right-known openings altogether of blues. It was potentially transformed into the doo-wop chorus on Jesse Stone's "Down in the Alley," recorded by the Clovers and Elvis Presley. Stone transcribed a riff when: He died of his third heart attack around Chicago within 1963, already a major influence in guitar player like the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones. His classic "Done Somebody Wrong" was typically covered per Allman Brothers Band, who cited James as a major influence.

James was too covered by Blues-Rock b& Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Condition numbers of days (although commonly survive). A best known one covers is Vaughan's handle of the James's legendary recording, "The Sky Is Crying."

James is mentioned in the Beatles song "For You Blue." While John Lennon plays a slide guitar, James' trademark, George Harrison says "Go, Johnny, go...Elmore James got nothin' on this, baby."

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