John Weldon "J. J." Cale (December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is associated with the development of the Tulsa sound, a style drawing on blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz. His work has been cited as an influence by musicians including Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Waylon Jennings, and Eric Clapton. He was known for a restrained vocal style and relaxed musical arrangements, which remained consistent throughout his career.
In 2008, Cale and Eric Clapton received a Grammy Award for the album "The Road to Escondido".
Cale was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1956. He learned guitar during his youth and also studied sound engineering, building a home recording setup while still living with his parents. After finishing school, he served in the United States Air Force, where he received technical training in electronics and audio-related work. His experience with recording and mixing later contributed to the production style of his studio albums.
In the early 1960s, Cale moved to Los Angeles with other musicians from Tulsa. He worked as a studio engineer and performed in clubs. In 1964, a recording of his song "Lazy Me" became a regional success for singer Mel McDaniel. In 1965, he performed regularly at the Whisky a Go Go, where he was given the name "J. J. Cale" to distinguish him from John Cale of The Velvet Underground. In 1966, he recorded a demo single of "After Midnight" with "Slow Motion" as the B-side for Liberty Records. The recording circulated among musicians in Los Angeles.
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