John Lee Hooker

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Abner, Jun 17, 2017.

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  1. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

  2. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    The greatest. I've been a fan since 1959. Had the privilege of meeting him in 1963. This was the hit that led to his fame, all right - but hardly the best of his many great songs, as I see it. Still good to hear it, though.

    John Lee was (rightly, I think) called by some the 'most African' of blues singers. One gig that never took place, unfortunately was the pairing of John Lee with the late Ali Farka Tourè of Mali. Scheduling conflicts - so it didn't happen. I've listened a lot to both - and Ali's son, curiously called Vieux (old) Touré, although he was the younger Touré.

    I like to think John Lee and some Malian musicians are often playing from the same tradition, separated by a couple of hundred years. John Lee Hooker left us a daughter (Zakiya Hooker) who is an excellent singer and a son (john Lee Hooker Jr.) whose singing I don't care for at all.

    Also among the (few) 'children of the greats' I really like: the late Muddy Waters' two sons - Big Bill and "Mud" Morganfield.
    Big Bill has done gigs around here and he's every bit the singer his father was. His brother is excellent, too.

    Oh yes - and Shemekia Copeland, daughter of the late Johnny Copeland, the "Texas Twister." Excellent music!

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 18, 2017
  3. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Wow! You met John Lee Hooker! I'll have to look in to some of the names you have mentioned here. I really like Muddy Waters amongst a long list of others.
     
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Johnny Copeland (mentioned above) was a great Texas bluesman who died in 1997. If you like blues, and think you might like African music, try his "Bringing It all Back Home" album. He did an African tour in 1985 and made some good music with African musicians. You can hear it on YouTube, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2mmvuOd-Y

    Another great West African guitarist is Habib Koité. Some of his work is blues-like and some follows different traditions; he learned flamenco techniques from one of his teachers. I like what he does. There's plenty of his work on YouTube.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habib_Koit%C3%A9

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 20, 2017

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