Born in Texas, James Inckanish Jr. recorded his first single in 1962. After he moved to California he teamed up with Roy Estrada in The Soul Giants which became the Mothers of Invention under Frank Zappa’s leadership and JCB found eternal fame as “the Indian of the group”.
As Indian Ink he was a second drummer in the short-lived Magic Band Don put together for the Knebworth and Roxy shows in July 1975. He has never recorded with the Magic Band.
In a June 2000 interview with Alan Clayson JCB said:-
… in 1975, I did a tour with Captain Beefheart.The difference between his music and Frank’s was like night and day. Frank was avant garde, but Beefheart was the real thing, totally left-field. We rehearsed seven days a week, and maybe we’d play our instruments one hour in twelve. The rest of the time, we’d listen to him bullshit.
With a wife and (at least) five children to support he kept himself busy drumming and singing with countless bands. In the 1990s he struck up an interesting partnership with Eugene Chadbourne as ‘The Jack & Jim Show’ producing some of the best interpretations of Beefheart’s songs around. He also toured with the Zappa tribute band, The Muffin Men, on vocals performing a couple of Beefheart covers too.
Jimmy lived in Germany for many years when not touring. He sadly passed away in November 2008 after succumbing to cancer.
Visit the Jimmy Carl Black website.
NOTE: The discography below is quite lengthy but I don’t think it is complete. Any additions, corrections etc. welcomed. I have begun by listing the ‘solo’ releases and then the many albums which have featured a contribution by JCB.
Jimmy Carl Black
- 1981 Clearly Classic
- 1997 When Do We Get Paid
- 2000 Secrets of Crater 6
2001 Where´s The %§& Beer? A 30 year Anthology of JCB singing. There are songs from Geronimo Black, The Muffin Men, and the Austin Grandmothers. Includes a number of Beefheart covers- 2001 Drumming the Blues (sampler)
Jimmy Carl Black & Roy Estrada
- 2003 Midnight Hamburger BEP on Inkanish Records
Jimmy Carl Black & The Mannish Boys
- 1987 Lil’ Dab’l Do Ya on Amazing Records
Jimmy Carl Black & Arthur Brown
- 1988 Brown, Black & Blue
The Jack & Jim Show
(Jimmy Carl Black & Eugene Chadbourne)
- 1994 CD Locked In A Dutch Coffeeshop on Fundamental Recording Co HYMN2
- 1995 CD Pachuco Cadaver on Fire Ant FACD1007
- 2001 CD Early Years
- 2001 CD Uncle Jimmy’s Master Plan
Farrell & Black
Richard Ray Farrell and JCB play blues based classics plus some self-penned songs. A cover of ‘Sure Nuff ‘n’ Yes I Do’ is included on the ‘Cataract Jump’ album.
- 1995 CD Cataract Jump Fritz Records, FR 952014-1
- 1999 Black Limousine
Jimmy Carl Black and the Extra Combo
- 2001 Mercedes Benz
Black, Pini and Jesdinsky Power Trio
- ???? Live In Steinbach
Holzhaus, Black and Teressas
- ???? Just Got In From Texas
The Keys
- 1962 US 7″ Stretch Pants / A Matter of Time on Ultimate Records
Mothers of Invention
- 1966 Freak Out!
- 1967 Absolutely Free
- 1967 Lumpy Gravy
- 1968 We’re Only in It for the Money
- 1968 Cruising with Ruben and the Jets
- 1969 Uncle Meat
- 1969 Mothermania: The Best of the Mothers
- 1969 Burnt Weeny Sandwich
- 1970 Weasels Ripped My Flesh
- 1971 200 Motels
- 1981 You Are What You Is
- 1988 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore vol. 1
- 1991 The Ark
- 1991 Tis the Season to Be Jelly
- 1991 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, vol. 4
- 1992 Electric Aunt Jemima
- 1992 Our Man in Nirvana
- 1992 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, vol. 5
- 1992 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, vol. 6
- 1993 Ahead of Their Time
- 1995 Strictly Commercial
- 1996 The Lost Episodes
- 1997 Have I Offended Someone?
- 1997 Strictly Genteel
- 1998 Mystery Disc
- 1999 Son of Cheep Thrills
The GTOs
- 1969 Permanent Damage
Geronomo Black
- 1972 Geronimo Black
- 1980 Welcome Back
Nolan
- 1972 Vinyl No Apologies on Lizard Records
- 1996 CD No Apologies
This album also includes contributions from Roy Estrada and Lowell George.
Big Sonny and Lo-Boys
- 1979 In Heat
The band had been called the Messila Valley Lo-Boys
The Grandmothers
- 1980 Anthology Previously Unreleased Material
- 1981 Official Grandmothers Fan Club Talk Album
- 1982 Looking Up Granny’s Dress
- 1993 A Mother of an Anthology
- 1994 Who Could Imagine?
- 1995 Dreams on Long Play
- 2000 Eating The Astoria
Steve Terell
- 1982 Picnic Time For Potatoheads
Austin Lounge Lizards
- 1988 Highway Cafe of the Damned
Eugene Chadbourne
- 1990 Chadbourne Baptist Church
- 1997 Chadbourne Barber Shop
Henry Vestine
- 1991 Guitar Gangster
Don Preston
- 1994 Vile Foamy Ectoplasm
Ant Bee
- 1994 With My Favorite “Vegetables” & Other Bizarre Muzik
- 1997 Lunar Muzik
- 2011 Electronic Church Muzik
The Muffin Men
- 1993 Say Cheese And Thank You
- 1997 Frankincense Play Zappa
- 1998 MufFinz
- 1999 God Shave the Queen
Various Artists
- 1995 Wavelength Infinity: A Sun Ra Tribute
Tom Shaka with JCB & Lars-Luis Linek
- 1996 Blues Magic
Behind The Mirror
- 1998 Cockroach Albert
Thana Harris
- 2000 Thanatopsis
Route 66 All Stars
- 2001 Live All Stars
- 2001 More Live All Stars
Ella Guru
- 2004 CD The First Album on Banana Recordings
A Liverpool-based band with up to eight members producing a quiet, subtle country rock sound. Includes a dual male/female lead vocal, clarinet, pedal steel guitar, piano and cornet instrumentation. Jimmy Carl Black made an appearance on their first album.
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If anyone is able to complete or update any of the information above, then please do get in touch.