Junior Wells: Blues Man Extraordinaire
Saturday Afternoon Early 1966
I sat down on the basement hideabed. It had a cigarette burn the size of a saucer from one of my sister’s parties. My brother turned on the television for me. He set the volume low and gestured for me to be silent as he prepared to practice. An intriguing mixture of Barbara Eden and the blues… Nonetheless … That’s my story.
If you missed me saying it, music was always a big part of my family’s background. I’ve been listening to this stuff even before I was born. Right now I am only six years old and my brother is in his early teens.
Nothing was cooler to me than hanging out with my brother… We’ve shared a room since the day I was born. It was around this time that he started to play the guitar. It seemed that he never slept. He was always practicing any second he could. Those licks he was learning were drilled into my head from a very early age … No wonder the blues has so much meaning when I listen to it.
My brother grabbed his guitar case that was sitting in the corner of the room right next to his Champ Amp. With vast pride, he opened the case and took out the baby blue Fender Mustang. Then he put on the strap and propped the guitar onto his shoulder; quickly sneaking a peek at himself in the mirror while plugging into his amp. Shuffling through a few of the albums lying on his amp, he picked an LP by Junior Wells entitled Hoodoo Man Blues. How my brother loved the blues! Taking the record out of its cover and placing it on the turntable; the stylus hit the vinyl and the room swelled with that sweet sound! My brother would flawlessly play along.
We're Ready [3:41m]: Junior Wells
was born Amos Blakemore in Memphis Tennessee on December 9th, 1934. His career would span over 40 years. For those who may be unfamiliar, Wells was famous for performing with the likes of Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Lonnie Brooks, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison. Junior was also one of the major and influential players of Chicago’s vibrant, funky, electric blues sound in the late 1950’s and 60’s.
Raised on a farm in rural Memphis and Arkansas, Wells was inspired by the productive blues culture of Memphis and would learn harmonica from Little Junior Parker. After his parents separated, Junior and his mother eventually moved to Chicago in 1946. It was here where Junior discovered his future.
In his teens Junior quite often played hooky from school; finding whatever time he could to practice his craft. He would sneak into clubs, vying to “sit-in” with bands… One classic story is where Junior convinced his sister and boyfriend at the time, a Chicago policeman, to take him to Sam’s Ebony Lounge to see Muddy Waters band.
“I went up to Muddy and told him I played harp…Muddy said he’d let me try. Little Walter said, “That little shrimp.” They stood me on a coke box to reach the mike and I made $45 in tips.”
When Little Walter left Muddy Waters in 1952, Junior got the call. He stayed with Waters until he was inducted into the army. However, Wells never let that stand in his way. He would go AWOL, and create some of his first recordings during that time.
In 1957, Wells hooked up with producer Mel London, who owned the Chief, Profile and several other record labels. The association resulted in many of Wells’ most memorable songs, including “I Could Cry” and “Lovey Dovey Lovely One” in 1957 and the R&B influenced classic ( and one of my personal favorites ) “Messin’ with the Kid” in 1960.
Junior was best-known for his 1965 album Hoodoo Man Blues on Delmark Records, it featured Buddy Guy on guitar and the vibe emulated the smoky atmosphere of the era’s Westside Chicago blues bars. It made an impression on so many people. The music from that LP will forever remind me of some the first audible sounds that I recall.
As time progressed into the mid seventies, and after opening for the Rolling Stones with Buddy Guy in that timeframe, little was heard of Wells on vinyl. He did however continue to have mass appeal at home and abroad throughout his career.
In 1997 on his album entitled Come on in This House, the critics took notice once again. It would seem that Junior was on the comeback. The album even won the W.C. Handy Blues Award for Traditional Blues Album.
Wells remained a powerful live performer. With one mesmerizing blast from his amplified harmonica, he would gain the respect of everyone in the room. Junior continued to perform until he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in the summer of 1997. That fall, while undergoing treatment, he suffered a stroke; sending him into a coma. Wells remained in the coma until he passed away in January 1998.
There are several compilations that were released after his death, as was the film Blues Brothers 2000, where he had a cameo apperance… Junior thanks for the great memories!
Back In The Basement
These musical moments consistently took place in my household. My parents worked everyday, and were more than happy to encourage music as a form of escape and creativity. Occasionally my father, who played harmonica, would join in on these practice sessions. And eventually my brother added his friends to the practice session on Saturdays. By that time, he really had many of his chops down and my interest grew even further as I watched him rehearse.
Often there were audible music wars in the house as The Monkees and Paul Revere and The Raiders were blasting from my sister’s bedroom. But to me, even though I was just six, it was the blues that truly stuck in my mind the most. It seemed to come from somewhere deeper inside.
-The Blues Blogger
Very cool post. BB you’re an awesome writer. Very unique the way you blend your experiences from the past with information about the artist. Love readng your blog! Keep it up.