The Blues Blogger

A few days ago my brother emailed me some pictures I haven’t seen for more than 30 years. Some memorable images that acted as a strong reminder of the many articles I’ve written as The Blues Blogger. One of these was a piece I wrote last summer on Junior Wells… Since there are so many new readers in the past few months alone, and this December 9th,2009 marks what would have been Junior Wells’ 75th birthday, I thought I would republish the post. I hope you enjoy my musical memory…

The Year Was 1965

As many of you are already aware, music was a big part of my life growing up. In 1965 I was only five years old and my brother in his early teens. Nothing was cooler to me than hanging out with my brother. Back then he practiced guitar constantly, and those licks he worked on while we were growing up were embedded into my earliest memories…

As usual 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 took out his 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…

I sat down on the basement hide-a-bed. It had a cigarette burn the size of a saucer from one of my sister’s crazy parties. Shuffling through a few of his new albums lying on his amp, he picked an LP by Junior Wells entitled Hoodoo Man Blues. My brother gestured for me to be silent as he prepared to practice. 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]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Junior Wells

was born Amos Blakemore in Memphis Tennessee on December 9th, 1934. His career would span over 40 years. For those 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 Wells 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 her 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.” ~Junior Wells

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 many people. The music from that LP will always 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 time frame, 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 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 appearance…

Back In The Mid Sixties

There was always these cool musical moments that took place in my household. My parents worked everyday and encouraged music as a form of escape and creativity. Eventually my brother added his friends to the practice sessions. By this time he was really getting his chops down and this lead to some serious rehearsals in our basement on Saturdays. And as a result, my interest in music grew further watching everyone rehearse.

Often there were audible music wars in the house as The Monkees, The Beatles and Paul Revere & The Raiders were blasting from my sister’s bedroom. But to me, even though I was so young, it was the blues that truly stuck in my mind the most. It seemed to come from somewhere deeper inside.

Do you have any favorite songs or memories of Junior Wells that you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you…

The Blues Blogger

Tags: Blues Reflections, Reflections, The Sixties // 9 Comments »