John Brim (April 10 1922 — October 1 2003) was an Chicago blues guitarist, songwriter and blues harp player. He wrote and recorded the original "Ice Cream Man" that David Lee Roth covered on Diamond Dave, and Van Halen also covered on their first album. "Ice Cream Man" was also covered by Martin Sexton on his 2001 live double album, Live Wide Open.

Biography

Brim recorded for Random Records, J.O.B. Records, Parrot Records (the socially aware "Tough Times"), and Chess Records ("Rattlesnake," his answer to Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" was pulled from the shelves by Chess for fear of a plagiarism lawsuit). In 1953, and in later years, together with Elmore James, he recorded the record "Whose Muddy Shoes". On some tracks Little Walter played the harmonica whilst Jimmy Reed was also blowing the harp. Cut in 1953, the suggestive "Ice Cream Man" had to wait until 1969 to enjoy a very belated release. Brim's last Chess single, "I Would Hate to See You Go," was waxed in 1956 with a combo consisting of Little Walter, guitarist Robert Lockwood, Jr., bassist Willie Dixon, and drummer Fred Below.

In between touring, Brim operated dry-cleaning businesses and a record store. When the royalties from Van Halen’s recording of "Ice Cream Man" came through, they enabled him to open John Brim’s House of the Blues Broadway Nite Club in Chicago.

After a hiatus of a few decades, Brim returned to the recording studio with a set for Tone-Cool Records.

He was tempted back into the recording studio again in 1989 to record four songs for the German Wolf label, and renewed interest in him finally led to his recording his first solo CD, Ice Cream Man, in 1994. It received a W. C. Handy nomination as the best Traditional Blues Album of the Year.

Brim also appeared at the 1997 San Francisco Blues Festival.

He recorded again in 2000, 50 years after his recording debut, and continued to tour, playing in Belgium in 2001. He made his final appearance at the 2002 Chicago Blues Festival.

Brim, who lived in Gary, Indiana remained active on the Chicago blues scene until his death, on 1 October 2003 at the age of 81. He is survived by seven daughters and two sons. One son predeceased him.

See also

• List of Chicago blues musicians
• List of Electric blues musicians
• J.O.B. Records discography

References