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John Lee Hooker

 

The legendary blues singer, song writer and guitarist John Lee Hooker was born in Mississippi (exact date and place disputed) on August 22, in either 1912 or 1917. The U.S. Census Records indicate it was most probably 1912. He was the son of a share cropper. He was educated at home and only permitted to hear gospel music while a child. In 1921 his parents separated, and he met blues singer and guitarist William Moore, who became a major influence. He ran away from home when he was fourteen and allegedly never went back home. During World War II he worked in various factories in various cities including Ford in Detroit. He made his first recordings in Detroit in 1948 while working at a local steel mill. His first album, House of The Blues, was released by Chess in 1959 and sold well in the UK. In 1962 he toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival tour, which enabled him to become better known.

The albums “The Healer” and “Chill Out” which he recorded in the 1990s are regarded as classics and were awarded Grammys.

John Lee Hooker died in his sleep on June 21, 2001.

Image:  John Lee Hooker performs on a TV Show with an Epiphone hollow body electric guitar, circa 1965.  Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images.

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