News — JJ Cale

"The Breeze" Wins Downbeat Magazine's 2015 Reader's Poll for Best Blues Album!

October 27, 2015

The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale by Eric Clapton & Friends has scored another recognition milestone, having previously won Vintage Guitar Magazine's Reader's Choice as Album of the Year for 2014. Eric Clapton assembled an all star cast for his tribute to JJ Cale including John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks, David Lindley, Albert Lee, Reggie Young, Don White, Doyle Bramhall II, Don Preston, Christine Lakeland, Greg Leisz, Jim Keltner, Nathan East, Jimmy Markham, David Teegarden, Mickey Raphael, James Cruce, Jimmy Karstein, Jamie Oldaker, Michelle John, Sharon White, Simon Climie and Satnam S Ramgotra for the project. The box sets include JJ Cale's original versions of all the songs covered by Eric and friends in the tribute. Eric also made the very creative extra nod to JJ Cale by starting the record off with a sample of Cale's own count in to his original version of "Call Me The Breeze" from his debut album, "Naturally". Eric's video for the song was also perhaps the deepest tribute any one artist could pay to another. Once again sincere Thanks to Eric and thanks to all who have supported the Album.

Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale: David McClister

"The Breeze" Wins 2014 Album of The Year in Vintage Guitar magazine's Reader's Choice Awards

February 9, 2015

The Breeze - An Appreciation of JJ Cale by Eric Clapton &apm; Friends has just been honored as the 2014 Album of The Year in Vintage Guitar magazine's Reader's Choice Awards. Over 40% of the overall Album of The Year votes went to the Tribute to JJ Cale which also features John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty (whose own new CD, Hypnotic Eye ranked #2 with 21% of the votes), Mark Knopfler, Derek Trucks, David Lindley, Albert Lee, Reggie Young, Don White, Doyle Bramhall II, Don Preston, Christine Lakeland, Greg Leisz, Jim Keltner, Nathan East, Jimmy Markham, David M. Teegarden Sr., Mickey Raphael, James Cruce, Jimmy Karstein, Jamie Oldaker, Michelle John, Sharon White, Simon Climie and Satnam S Ramgotra. Once again, our Deepest Gratitude to Eric Claptonfor his extensive work and incredible dedication in creating such a timeless tribute to his friend, JJ Cale. And Thanks to all those who voted and all the fans and supporters of JJ Cale for making this project such a success.

Happy Birthday, JJ Cale

December 5, 2014

Today, December 5, 2014, would be JJ Cale’s 76th birthday. We're missing him! Coincidentally this new video for "Don’t Wait" featuring John Mayer, Eric Clapton, and Christine Lakeland sharing vocals and with John Mayer and Eric on guitars is just out today. Another standout track from The Breeze An Appreciation of JJ Cale by Eric Clapton & Friends.

JJ Cale Inducted Into The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame November 1, 2014

November 1, 2014

Thanks to all the great musicians and friends who gathered in Tulsa on October 31 and November 1, 2014 for JJ Cale's induction into The Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame . Also inducted on the same night were Chuck Blackwell, Elvin Bishop, Jim Keltner and posthumously Lowell Fulson. The event included performances by inductees Elvin Bishop, Chuck Blackwell and Jim Keltner, as well as Christine Lakeland Cale and a host of the original Tulsa Sound musicians. Following his induction, a large cast of musicians and Cale's friends performed in tribute to him covering old favorites like "If You're Ever in Oklahoma," "Magnolia," "Crazy Mama," "Call Me The Breeze," "Sensitive Kind," "Roll On" and "After Midnight". Congratulations to all the night"s honorees. A wonderful time was had by all.

Cale's friends and associates gathered at a pre-induction reception on October 31, 2014 (photo credit: Cliff Moore)(Standing L to R) Johnny Williams, Steve Ripley, James Cruce, Tommy Tripplehorn, Jamie Oldaker, Jim Keltner, Gary Gilmore, Karl Himmel… — Cale's friends and associates gathered at a pre-induction reception on October 31, 2014 (photo credit: Cliff Moore)
(Standing L to R) Johnny Williams, Steve Ripley, James Cruce, Tommy Tripplehorn, Jamie Oldaker, Jim Keltner, Gary Gilmore, Karl Himmel, Don Preston, Bill Kenner, Elvin Bishop, Charles Tuberville, Doug Belli, Jim Karstein, Steve Hickerson, Shelby Eicher, Ray D. Rowe, Walt Richmond, Skip VanWinkl
(Seated Middle Row) Rocky Frisco, David Teegarden Sr., Larry Bell, Jimmy Markham, Jimmy Gordon, Jim Byfield
(Seated Front) Don White, Christine Lakeland Cale, Nick Rather, Jamie Nichol
Not pictured: Chuck Blackwell, Tommy Crook, Casey VanBeek

New JJ Cale "Call Me The Breeze" Caps Are Now Available

August 16, 2014

New JJ Cale "Call Me The Breeze" caps are available online now at the JJ Cale Merch Store. These new caps complete the recently released set of merch designs featuring "Call Me The Breeze" - the title of Cale's legendary song covered by Johnny Cash, John Mayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd and now Eric Clapton among others. The caps come in two colors (charcoal or olive) and feature an embroidered JJ Cale logo on the front and "Call Me the Breeze" on the back. They are one size fits all with an adjustable strap, brass buckle and brass slit.

"The Breeze" Tops European Charts

August 6, 2014

FANTASTIC NEWS - The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale has entered the charts at #1 in The Netherlands, #1 Denmark, #2 in the US, #2 in Germany, #2 in Canada, #3 in the UK and #4 in Belgium! Just Phenomenal! Thanks especially to Eric Clapton for all the heart and hard work he has put in this past year coordinating this entire project to honor his friend, JJ Cale. And Thanks to all of you for your support in helping to make this tribute to JJ Cale so incredibly successful. If you don't have it already, you can purchase the album and / or its two special editions here:

JJ Cale Store • Amazon • iTunes

An Appreciation of Eric Clapton

August 2, 2014

Just a sincere Thank You to Eric Clapton for all he has done for JJ Cale since initially putting him on the map by recording "After Midnight" and then "Cocaine" and so much more since then. It's hard to say how many people would have known about JJ Cale if it had not been for his music connecting so well with Eric and Eric giving back so generously. With "The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale", Eric is accomplishing his goal of introducing a much wider audience to Cale's music. Eric has been particularly instrumental in Cale's career but giving back to those who have influenced him is nothing new for Eric who has brought so much attention in the past to other friends and heroes like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King, George Harrison, Howlin Wolf, Hubert Sumlin, Willie Dixon, Freddie Kingand Charles Brown in addition to so many more via exposure at his Crossroads Guitar Festivals and as supporting acts. Eric has set a wonderful example of using the spotlight he has earned, as a platform to introduce others to the music that means so much to him. Thank you, Eric!

Eric Clapton's New Version of JJ Cale's "Call Me The Breeze" Is the Starbucks Pick of the Week

July 28, 2014

Eric Clapton's new version of JJ Cale's "Call Me The Breeze", from Clapton's just released tribute album, is the Starbucks Pick of the Week starting July 29, 2014. Visit Starbucks and grab their Pick of the Week card or connect in-store to Starbucks Wi-Fi to access the Entertainment Section of the Starbucks Digital Network for your free download. At the time of this writing, The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale ranked #1 on Amazon and #3 on iTunes charts.

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2019-04 Record Store Day
2019-03 First-ever vinyl pressings - Out April 26th
2018-10 New Album Coming Soon!
2017-11 New JJ Cale T-shirts
2017-10 RIP Tom Petty
2017-03 Live In San Diego
2016-06 3 Original Albums
2016-05 Clapton Collection, I Still Do

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2015-10 The Breeze Wins Downbeat Reader's Poll
2015-02 The Breeze Wins Vintage Guitar Reader's Poll
2014-12 Happy Birthday JJ Cale
2014-11 Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame Induction
2014-08 "Call Me The Breeze" Caps
2014-08 Eric Clapton Discusses The Breeze
2014-08 Appreciation Of Eric Clapton
2014-07 "Call Me The Breeze" Starbucks Pick

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2014-07 The Breeze featured on NPR NYTimes AP
2014-07 The Breeze Documentary on VH1 Classic
2014-07 The Breeze Streaming on iTunes
2014-07 Cajun Moon Premiered on Rolling Stone
2014-07 The Breeze Mini Documentary
2014-07 The Breeze Deluxe and Special Edition
2014-06 Eric Clapton's JJ Cale Tribute Video
2014-06 "Call Me The Breeze" Official Lyric Video
2014-04 The Breeze Official Press Release

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2013-12 NY Times Op Doc
2013-11 Oklahoma Jazz Hall Of Fame
2013-06 JJ Cale Has Passed Away
2013-04 Classic Album-Selection
2013-03 "Angel" Featured In Clapton's Old-Sock
2012-09 Neil Young's Waging Heavy Peace
2011-06 Nashville Songwriters HOF Nomination
2011-02 The Silverton Years
2010-09 JJ Cale Featured In Clapton's New Album

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2010-05 "Travelin' Light" Played In Space
2010-03 American Routes Interview
2009-09 Filter Magazine Interview
2009-06 Clapton/Winwood Live From MSG features Cale songs
2009-04 JJ Cale Tour Highlights
2009-03 Roll On Euro Release
2009-03 "JJ Cale Is Our Hero"
2009-02 JJ Cale Tour Announced
2009-02 Roll On Released