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Classic Vinyl

With Allan Day

JR. WELLS VOCALIST/HARMONICA PLAYER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Autographed Jr. Wells Litho Hoodoo Man Vinyl Record Junior Wells On Tap Album 1974 Junior Wells 4 CD Covers Drinkin TNT N Smokin Dynamite Album Junior Wells Photo

Junior Wells was born on December 9th 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee---his real name was Amos Blakemore---while there, he was taught the basics of blues harmonica by Junior Parker, a neighbour who wrote "Mystery Train" a major blues tune played by many artists in the blues field. He later moved to Chicago and by his mid-teens was playing regularly with The Three Deuces/later The Three Aces/ then The Aces.

At the young age of 18, Junior replaced Little Walter in the Muddy Waters Band and spent a year with them. Junior's style was shaped by Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson (this columnist's favourite harmonica player). During this time he recorded his best known song "Hoodoo Man Blues" check out my recent purchase in MINT condition of Hoodoo Man Blues 1965 with Buddy Guy on the Delmark label.

In 1957, he recorded "Little By Little" which was covered by The Rolling Stones and "Messin With The Kid" which has been covered by many many blues bands of the 60's. In 1958, he began his lengthy partnership with guitarist Buddy Guy.

The Hoodoo Man Blues album finally brought both the musicians the recognition outside of the Chicago blues scene and they were featured on the blues rock circuit and other blues circuit scenes and brought them International success. Touring constantly in the mid 60's 70's they began to tire of each other---in the late 80's they dissolved the band. He recorded with Bill Wyman/Buddy Guy/Pinetop Perkins/Dallas&Terry Taylor "Drinkin' TNT N' Smokin' Dynamite on Ripple Records---live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland 1974

In the 1990's the blues began to resurge again and there was a flourish of recording activity. Some of his cd recordings were Harp Attack '91 with Billy Branch/James Cotton and Carey Bell, Better Off With the Blues '93 and an acoustic cd Alone and Acoustic with Buddy Guy '91, Everybody's Gettin Some '95 and Come On In This House '96. My best count when tracking down his recordings, I found 40 albums in his catalogue---Junior Wells was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998 along with Luther Allison blues guitar.

In the late 1990's, Junior Wells' longtime manager, Marty Salzman, commissioned the team of Ron and Shawn Bailey to capture an intense moment of a Junior Wells live performance in an oil painting--as a surprise gift to Junior. It came out so beautifully that Marty wanted a copy for himself and for a limited number of Junior's friends, family and fans. I happened to come by the advertisement for it in "Living Blues Magazine" around this time and I managed to get one for my collection. VERY NICE (check out this week's photos)

Junior Wells died on January 15, 1998 in Chicago and will be remembered as both a GREAT performer and practitioner of the blues harmonica---to me, one of the smoothest blues vocalists ever.

This week's youtube of Junior Wells are an amazing journey into this man's incredible musical life, I hope you enjoy the clips as much as I do----Hoodoo Man 1966 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nisxh5PPFBA Jr. Wells and Mike Boomfield "Messin With The Kid" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSFq4eWwtnc Muddy Waters/Mike Boomfield and Jr. Wells "Long Distance Call" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ECiMNp1GsQ and Jr. Wells/Buddy Guy/A.C. Reed "Little By Little" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s4UPsANq14&feat...ure=related <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s4UPsANq14&...ure=related> Just an amazing trip down the BLUES HIGHWAY---Hope you enjoy and while your on youtube, click on a few more Jr. Wells videos.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks column and see you in 2 weeks---contact me at bluesslider88@yahoo.ca or at cktimes with any comments you would like to make about classic vinyl



Allan Day----long time acquaintance of John Gardiner----I presently live in Goderich Ontario, retired (oh yeah) and live for the sound of music, especially from the 60's music explosion---I hope you enjoy some of my articles and they bring back some lost memories of bands gone by. Now I have to let you know that I am a HUGE Rolling Stones fan, collector, historian and I hope to hear any stories you might have on this GREAT Band from the 60's----email me at CK Times and let me know what you have or memories you have of this group. I will include stories and short stories on The Stones each week.