Blues guitarist and singer J B Lenoir was born in Monticello, Mississsippi on March 5, 1929. His father was also a blues guitarist and introduced him to the songs of Blind Lemon Jefferson. By the early 1940s Lenoir was playing in the bands of Sonny Boy Williamson and Elmore James. By 1951 he was based in Chicago and recording for Chess and other labels. In 1963, Lenoir recorded for USA Records as ‘J. B. Lenoir and his African Hunch Rhythms’, developing an interest in African percussion. In 1965 he toured the UK and Europe. He is remembered also for his zebra skin style stage suit. His songs were overtly political, focusing on war and racism.
J. B. Lenoir died from injuries received in a car crash, in Urbana, Illinois on April 29, 1967.
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