Sammy Cotton

The recording career of Sammy Cotton took place largely between 1949 and 1952, when he was a lesser-known aspect of a group of recording artists surging forward on the New Orleans music scene. "Give Me One More Drink" is the Cotton side that has gained legendary status amongst partying disc jockeys and bartenders alike, not only for the subject matter but because of the singer's robust performance. If a glass is being raised in celebration, it might be for the invention of rock and roll, since Cotton's recordings for labels such as Derby are considered to rock just as hard as material that was released once a gimmicky new name for the new genre had actually been coined. During the years of Derby recording and promotion there was no such thing as rock and roll. Singles such as Cotton's "You've Been Mistreatin' Me, Baby", recorded with back-up from the Paul Gayten Orchestra, were not the type of record that would eventually get a seal of approval from DJ and promoter Alan Freed, who claimed to have invented rock and roll. Cotton also cut sides for the Regal and Deluxe labels. He was one of the featured vocalists with the large ensemble of saxophonist Freddie Mitchell, with whom he recorded another legendary party number, this time for the morning after: "We're Gonna Ball This Mornin'". The exuberant vocalist Cotton is not related to the harmonica player James Cotton. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide