b. 9 June 1934, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA, d. 3 February 1996, Washington, DC, USA. Although best known as a sideman, guitarist Spruill appeared on numerous R&B sessions in the late 50s and early 60s, mainly in New York City, where he had relocated around 1955. The labels on which he appeared included Fire, Fury, Everlast, Enjoy and VIM, all owned by Bobby and Danny Robinson, as well as Old Town and Vanguard Records. Among the artists with whom Spruill worked are Buster Brown, King Curtis, Bob Gaddy, John Hammond Jnr. , Jim and Bob Harrison, Little Anthony And The Imperials, Little Danny, the Shirelles, Tarheel Slim, Lynn Taylor And The Peachettes, and Charles Walker. Of particular note are his recordings with Wilbert Harrison, of ‘Kansas City’, and Bobby Lewis, of ‘Tossin’ And Turnin’’, on both of which he delivers blistering solos. These and other recordings of the period vividly demonstrate why he was billed as Wild Jimmy Spruill. In the mid-60s, Spruill briefly led his own band and enjoyed a brief career as a headliner at east coast nightclubs. He drifted out of music, reportedly working through the 70s and 80s as an interior decorator. He collapsed and died while travelling by bus home to New York after a vacation.