James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer.

Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. He first attracted attention singing in Calcutta, India, with Teddy Weatherford‘s band, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service during World War II. Witherspoon made his first records with Jay McShann‘s band in 1945. He first recorded under his own name in 1947, and two years later with the McShann band, he had his first hit, “Ain’t Nobody’s Business,”a song that came to be regarded as his signature tune. In 1950 he had hits with two more songs closely identified with him—”No Rollin’ Blues” and “Big Fine Girl”—and also with “Failing by Degrees” and “New Orleans Woman”, recorded with the Gene Gilbeaux Orchestra (which included Herman Washington and Don Hill) for Modern Records. These were recorded at a live performance on May 10, 1949, at a “Just Jazz” concert in Pasadena, California, sponsored by Gene Norman. Another classic Witherspoon composition is “Times Gettin’ Tougher Than Tough”.

Witherspoon performed in four of the famed Cavalcade of Jazz concerts held in Los Angeles at Wrigley Field which were produced by Leon Hefflin Sr.His first performance was at the fourth Cavalcade of Jazz on September 12, 1948 and Dizzy Gillespie was the featured artist along with Frankie Lane, Little Miss Cornshucks, The Sweetheart of Rhythms, Joe Liggins’ Honeydrippers, Joe Turner, The Blenders and The Sensations.