August 12, 1997 Luther Allison, blues guitarist, died. Allison was born August 17, 1939 in Widener, Arkansas but raised in Chicago, Illinois. Allison taught himself to play the guitar. During the 1950s and early 1960s, he worked the club circuit. He released his debut album, “Love Me Mama”, in 1968. In 1972, Allison was signed […]
Tag Archives | Blues Hall of Fame
June 21st in African American History – John Lee Hooker
June 21, 2001 John Lee Hooker, singer, songwriter and blues guitarist, died. Hooker was born August 22, 1917 in Coahoma County near Clarksdale, Mississippi. At the age of 15, Hooker ran away from home and in 1948 landed in Detroit, Michigan, working at the Ford Motor Company and playing in the blues venues and saloons […]
June 3rd in African American History – Koko Taylor
June 3, 2009 Koko Taylor, blues singer popularly known as the “Queen of the Blues,” died. Born Cora Walton on September 28, 1928 in Shelby County, Tennessee, Taylor moved to Chicago in 1952. During the late 1950s, she began singing in Chicago blues clubs. In 1966, Taylor recorded “Wang Dang Doodle” which became a hit […]
May 25th in African American History – Roy James Brown
May 25, 1981 Roy James Brown, pioneering R&B singer, songwriter, and musician, died. Brown was born September 10, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He started singing gospel music in the church choir. In 1947, he wrote and recorded “Good Rocking Tonight” which was a hit, reaching number 13 on the Billboard R&B charts. That song […]
February 15th in African American History – Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs
February 15, 1968 Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs, blues harmonica player, died. Jacobs was born May 1, 1930 in Marksville, Louisiana. Jacobs moved to Chicago in 1945 and from 1948 to 1952 played in Muddy Walters’ band. His harmonica is featured on most of Walters’ classic recordings from the 1950s.
January 29th in African American History – William James “Willie” Dixon
January 29, 1992 William James “Willie” Dixon, blues vocalist, songwriter, and record producer, died. Dixon was born July 1, 1915 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. As a teenager, he began adapting the poems that he wrote into songs and selling them to local music groups. In 1936, he moved to Chicago and helped form the Five Breezes. […]
November 24th in African American History – Joseph Vernon “Big Joe” Turner
November 24, 1985 Joseph Vernon “Big Joe” Turner, blues singer, died. Turner was born May 18, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri. At the age of fourteen, he began working in Kansas City’s nightclub scene. Turner’s career stretched from the barrooms of Kansas City in the 1920s to the European music festivals of the 1980s.