2008 – Armstrong and Getty: Cleavelend’s ‘Rock -n- Roll Hall of fame’ annouces ‘Run DMC’, famed for ‘Walk this way’(written by Aerosmith), will be inducted into the hall of fame. Excluded from the nominees are Stevie Ray Vaughn and Bon Jovi to name but a few.
Morning talk show hosts ‘Armstrong and Getty’ displayed their dismay of the announcement reffering to it as the ‘RECTUM OF FAME’ and intimating that Cleveland itself isn’t really the city you think of when you think ‘Rock-n-Roll’. Although, it is argued to be the birthplace of rock because of the DJ who first played it… well why not where it was first recorded… is that Memphis… or Los Angeles… I dunno…
This editor thinks they are greatly in the right by saying so. I think they should make a pre-requistie that you have to know how to play ‘Johnny B. Goode’ on the guitar before you can be nominated.
Run DMC before Stevie Ray Vaughn… it should be called the ‘Hall of Shame’.
2008 – The deep-voiced soul singer died August 10 after he was found unconscious at his Memphis residence. No autopsy was performed, but paperwork filed by Hayes’ family doctor, David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke.
2006 – American Idol contestant Derrell Brittenum surrenders to the Georgia police. Along with his twin brother Terrell, Brittenum performed on the hit show while being wanted on theft and forgery charges.
Terrell and Derrell Brittenum caught in new ‘American Idol’ controversy
By Christopher Rocchio, 01/17/2008
One American Idol mini-controversy apparently wasn’t enough for Terrell and Derrell Brittenum, the Memphis twins that were disqualified from the show’s fifth-season Hollywood Round after identity theft charges surfaced.
On Wednesday morning, the brothers’ newly-signed independent record label boldly announced that although American Idol had advanced them to the show’s Hollywood Round after they’d attended Idol’s seventh-season Atlanta auditions this summer, the twins had decided to “decline” the offer and instead release a debut album. The only problem is it wasn’t true.
“We thought long and hard about joining American Idol for season seven. Although it’s a great opportunity, we feel The Brittenum Twins are a group and only one of us can win and if I can’t do it without my brother I don’t think it would be a true win,” Terrell stated in the release. “Also, we have done it before, we know some of the techniques the judges use and don’t want anyone think we have an unfair advantage over the other contestants.”
However during a subsequent Wednesday afternoon interview with Reality TV World, Derrell and Terrell admitted that, despite the boastful announcement, it wasn’t their decision to not participate. Instead, the fact that they had already been 29-years-old at the time of their August audition meant that they were technically ineligible to compete in American Idol’s seventh season. (Idol 7 hopefuls were required to be between 16 and 28 years old as of July 28, 2007 — meaning that all applicants must be born on or between July 29, 1978 and July 28, 1991 in order to be eligible.)
“We auditioned with flying colors… They passed us through to [executive producer Ken Warwick]. Ken Warwick was like, ‘What do you guys think you’re doing? You’re 29-years-old. You know the limit is 28,’” said Terrell. “We were like, ‘We just want a second chance to show the world we’ve been through a lot…’ We just really viewed it as a second chance, and when we sang for Ken, he agreed.”
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Following their meeting with Warwick, Derrell and Terrell claim they were sent to audition for Idol judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, who all agreed the twins “do possess the talent to come back to the show” and thus awarded them a ticket to the season’s Hollywood Round.
“But before we could go to Hollywood Week — one week before we leave for Hollywood Week — they tell us there’s a possibility that we might not be on the show because our age is posing a problem for the legal department,” said Derrell. “So we fly out for Hollywood Week, and they tell us that we cannot do the show.”
When pressed, the brothers also acknowledged that despite their press release comments, they wouldn’t have declined the chance to participate if producers had waived the age requirement.
Terrell and Derrell Brittenum
“We would have been on… It’s a wonderful vehicle,” Terrell admitted.
“I think I would have taken it,” added Derrell. “You just can’t beat the Idol machine.”
When contacted by Reality TV World, a Fox publicist could not immediately confirm or deny any of the twins claims. In addition, the publicist couldn’t state whether Terrell and Derrell will be featured in American Idol’s seventh-season Atlanta auditions broadcast, which is scheduled to air Tuesday, February 5 at 8PM ET/PT.
“I really wonder if they’re going to air the footage… It was funny, it’s hilarious, it’s a story, it’s a message,” said Terrell. “It’s all of that in one. I really think even though [executive producer Nigel Lythgoe] said they’re not going to use it — I believe that that’s not [going to be] the case. I really believe that they’re going to use it this year, even if we’re not going to be on the show for Hollywood… We make good TV. They know that.”
The Brittenum brothers are no strangers to being uninvited from Idol’s Hollywood Round. They attended Idol 5′s Chicago audition in September 2005 and both immediately impressed the judges with their smooth, soulful voices, earning them a ticket to the season’s Hollywood Round.
However shortly after Fox aired their Idol 5 audition in January 2006, it was revealed the twins were being charged with forgery, theft by deception and financial identity fraud for allegedly buying a 2005 Dodge Magnum using another man’s identity.
While they were released from police custody shortly thereafter, their invite to Idol 5′s Hollywood Round was rescinded by the show’s producers, ending their Idol journey before it ever really began.
They then had a tentative deal with rapper Jermaine Dupri’s SoSo Def Records soon after the controversy, but they claim a lawyer representing them “messed the deal up.”
“We’re sort of trying to U-turn the bad decision we made about stealing the car, just trying to get our lives right,” said Terrell before adding they unfortunately found trouble again. “So we get locked up [in jail] again for an address change in July, and Idol was coming back to Atlanta on the fourteenth. We already planned to audition again for Idol at [age] 29.”
“We just thought let’s just give it another go,” added Derrell. “Maybe we can overturn the bad press and sort of make it good. let people know we made stupid decisions in life — but we still are talented… Just because we made bad decision doesn’t mean we have to stay down in the mess that we’re in. We can always pick ourselves back up and start over again.”
Terrell and Derrell’s first single off their “The Come Up” debut album is scheduled to be released in February via TSG Records, an Atlanta-based company that is home to several R&B singers and rappers. In addition, Terrell and Derrell have launched a foundation called U-Turn where they visit high schools to mentor youth.
Regardless of whether they appear in next month’s Atlanta auditions broadcast, the twins say American Idol viewers may still not have seen the last of them.
“They did give us an opportunity to come back to the show as far as guest appearances,” said Derrell. “So we’re thinking if the single does climb the charts, we’ll call American Idol and I’m sure they would love to put us back on the show.”
2004 – Blues singer Arnold “Gatemouth” Moore dies in Yazoo City, Miss., after a long illness. He is 90. Born in Topeka, Kan., Moore grew up in Memphis. He worked with various Kansas City jazz bands, and fronted Bennie Moten’s legendary group.
2003 – Pioneering producer and indie-label operator Sam Phillips dies in Memphis of respiratory failure. He is 80. In the early ’50s, Phillips’ Memphis Recording Service (later known as Sun Studio) cut and leased major blues and R&B recordings by Elvis Presley, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Ike Turner and others.
2003 – Ja Rule becomes the first high-profile international artist to tour South Africa.
Jeffrey Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper and actor signed to The Inc. and Universal Records formerly of Def Jam Recordings. A Hollis, New York native best-known for hits such as “Put It On Me,” “Between Me And You,” “I’m Real” and “Wonderful,” Ja Rule has released seven albums to date and sold over 20 million albums worldwide.
Biography
Early years
Born and raised in a Hollis, Queens, New York housing project, he attended Junior High School in Floral Park where he met his future wife Aisha Murray, graduating with her in 1991. They attended Martin Van Buren High School together, but he did not graduate.
When Atkins was five years old, his sister died from respiratory problems. His parents were Jehovah’s Witnesses. Growing up in a strict religious home, Atkin’s family did not celebrate birthdays and Christmas, and as a child, was not allowed to listen to rap music. When he first heard it, he decided to be a rapper. He would sneak the music into his house and played it on his CD player when his mother wasn’t around. Ja Rule allegedly stated that although he had previously attended a school in Queens, he transferred to a private school in Manhattan because of bullying about his small height. During his interview with Louis Farrakahn, he stated that he was the only black student at the school and said that because of his race, the other kids didn’t bother him.
At age 15, Atkins appeared with 0-1 and Chris Black as part of Cash Money Click which would lead to him being signed by TVT Records. Atkins was heard by a young DJ who called himself DJ Irv, and later Irv Gotti. Gotti was a friend of Jay-Z and a DJ for Def Jam Recordings . During the mid 90′s, Gotti was intent on meeting Ja Rule and helping him land a solo deal, eventually scoring one at Def Jam. Shortly after Def Jam decided to launch his career through the success of Jay-Z. Ja would appear on Jay-Z’s hit single Can I Get A… alongside Amil . Soon after we would quickly become one of the more popular rappers in the game as well as one of Def Jam’s premier acts.
Music career
Venni Vetti Vecci (1999)
On June 1, 1999, Ja Rule released his debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci. The album marked not only Ja’s debut, but the debut album from his label, Murder Inc. Records. Venni Vetti Vecci instantly launched Ja Rule’s career as he became a staple on hip hop and pop networks like MTV, VH1, and BET. The album featured “Holla Holla” along with “Its Murda” with Jay-Z and DMX. The final single was “Daddy’s Little Baby,” a duet with Ronald Isley. These three singles and the production coming from Irv Gotti along with performances from Memphis Bleek, Erick Sermon, Case, Black Child, Nemesis, and Caddillac Tah, then known as Tah Murdah, along with a notable performance from his mentor, Jay-Z led to the album going platinum.
Rule 3:36 (2000)
Ja Rule would return during the summer of 2000, with his new single “Between Me and You,” which featured Def Soul act Christina Milian. The single was quickly followed by Ja’s second effort, Rule 3:36, which was released on October 10, 2000. 3:36 also featured singles “Put It On Me,” and “I Cry.” The album featured guest appearances from Lil Mo, Vita, Christina Milian, label mates Jayo Felony, and Black Child. The album received mixed responses from critics due to its more commercial sound, abandoning a bit the darker street sound of his debut. Despite this, the album fared extremely well and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts, eventually going 3x Platinum. The release of this album marked a huge turn in Ja Rule’s style of music from a more hardcore edge to a pop crossover oriented sound.
Pain Is Love (2001)
Soon after the release of Rule 3:36, Irv Gotti would sign R&B singer Ashanti to the label, which led to Lil Mo ending her collaborations with the label. During the late summer of 2001, Ja Rule released the lead single from his third studio album, Pain Is Love, which was “Livin’ It Up.” The second single was the “I’m Real (remix),” and the third was “Always On Time,” and the last was “Down Ass Bitch.” This album is noted for two things the first is introducing a young Ashanti to the music business and the second is bringing Charli Baltimore back to the music business. Pain Is Love featured guest appearances from Case, The Murder Inc. Family, Missy Elliott, Jodie Mack, Tweet, Jennifer Lopez and a recording from the late Tupac Shakur. Along with its critical success it was also a commercial success it, like its predecessor went 3x Platinum.
The Last Temptation (2002)
Ja Rule would shave his head during the promotion of his fourth studio album, The Last Temptation. His fourth album was released on November 19, 2002. Although the album was fairly successful, certified platinum, it failed to carry the momentum brought by his previous album, criticized for being too commercial. It seemed that Ja’s popularity was starting to fade, due to many fan’s perceived notion that he was now catering exclusively to pop audiences.
Blood In My Eye (2003)
Blood In My Eye is the fifth album from Ja Rule. The content of this album led to a dramatic fall in his popularity. This album is also noted as the last Ja Rule album released by The Inc. Records under the moniker Murder Inc. This was partially due to Ja’s disses and death threats to adversaries, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes (a former associate), Eminem, Dr. Dre, DMX, and G-Unit. The album was originally planned to be a mixtape, but former label Def Jam Recordings forced him to release an album in 2003 to honor the contract, where he released an album every year. Blood In My Eye peaked at #6, but became his first album not to go gold or platinum, making it his lowest selling to date. On this album, Ja sparked rivalries with many artists on the Interscope Records roster. In October 2003, Ja Rule met with Minster Louis Farrakhan, who wanted to intervene and prevent escalating violence in the feud between 50 Cent and Ja Rule.
R.U.L.E. (2004)
Ja Rule returned to form on his sixth studio album, R.U.L.E. released on November 9, 2004. This album was considered a comeback of sorts for Ja as he attempted a return to mainstream success. The lead single was “Wonderful” which was followed by the street anthem, “New York,” the third and last single was “Caught Up”. The album featured guest appearances from Ashanti, Lloyd, Trick Daddy, R. Kelly, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Claudette Ortiz, Black Child, Caddillac Tah and many more. Despite not having the staying power of his earlier albums R.U.L.E. still managed to go gold, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since 2002 with The Last Temptation.
Exodus (2005)
On December 6, 2005, Ja Rule released his seventh album, which is nothing more than a greatest hits album. It featured only one new song “Exodus (Intro)” which was produced by Irv Gotti. The album was released to honor the contract with Def Jam so that The Inc. could get a fresh start with a new distributor. After the release of this compilation, Ja Rule took a hiatus from recording music.
Departure from Def Jam (2005-2006)
In 2005, The Inc. Records would come under investigation because of the drug trades by Kenneth “Supreme” Mc Griff, who is associated with Irv Gotti. This would all lead to Def Jam Recordings refusing to renew The Inc.’s contract. From 2005 to 2006, Irv would search for other labels, until finally reaching a deal with Universal Records.
The Mirror (2008)
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In March, 2008, Ja Rule planned to release his Universal Records debut and eighth studio album, The Mirror. The first single, “Uh Oh” was released on July 31, 2007 and premiered on music video shows the following day. This second single, “Body” was released in September. The album contains a collaboration with former G-Unit artist, The Game , whom he had once had a lyrical altercation with, called “Sunset.” The album was originally supposed to be titled Love Is Pain as a sequel to his album Pain Is Love. The album eventually was pushed back a second time with no definitive release date.
Personal life
Criminal charges
In 1999, he along with the rest of Murder Inc. were brought up on charges for assaulting 50 Cent, which led to a restraining order against them for 50. Also in 2003, he punched a man in Toronto for shouting at him in a crowd because of the 50 Cent feud. He would end up suing Ja Rule, but they settled out of court. In 2004, police investigated whether a feud involving The Inc. led to fatal shooting outside a nightclub party hosted by Ja Rule. In July 2007, Ja Rule was arrested for gun and drug possession charges along with Lil Wayne.
Romantic life
Ja Rule met his future wife, Aisha while attending middle school and they married when they were eighteen.
Homophobia
In the September 2007 issue of Complex magazine, Ja Rule was mistakenly reported to have expressed that homosexuals are to be blamed for the problems and destruction in the United States, and was disgusted at MTV’s promotion of LGBT television shows. He also spoke out about how hip hop is being blamed for more issues than homosexuality, and perpetuated the belief that gays are evil and corrupting music and television.
“ “And if it is, then we need to go step to Paramount, and fucking MGM, and all of these other motherfuckers that’s making all of these movies and we need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these fucking shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can’t watch this shit,” he continued. “Dating shows that’s showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let’s talk about shit like that! If that’s not fucking up America, I don’t know what is.” ”
His comments prompted a strong rebuke from GLAAD, who issued a public statement stating, “No fair-minded person can look at Ja Rule’s interview with Complex Magazine and believe for one second that his children could be more harmed by what they might see on television than by the vulgarity and prejudice that comes out of their father’s mouth. Now that media have seen Ja Rule’s intolerance unmasked by his own words, they have a responsibility not to provide in the future a platform for his ugly, vulgar displays of prejudice.”
It was later revealed that GLAAD had been mistaken and that he was actually mis-quoted in an interview with online MySpace interview channel The Hook Up on October 24, 2007. He went on in a January 2008 issue of XXL Magazine to state his words were taken out of context. He is quote as stating:
“ “What I was saying in that article is everyone has that same responsibility. They’re absolutely right: Rappers have a responsibility to the kids. But don’t just pin it on the hip-hop. If I gotta curb my lyrics or censor what I say, no problem. But if you gonna show sexual images during the daytime for children, that should be censored as well … And I’m not just talking about homosexuality. I’m talking about any sexuality. If it’s too sexy for kids, its too sexy for kids …” ”
Hip Hop entrepreneur
Aside from being president of The Inc. Records, Ja Rule is the owner and founder of Rule Global Media. This consists of Mpire Records, ErvingGeoffrey, and Stars On Poker.net.
The Inc. Records
Ja Rule co-founded The Inc. Records along with Irv Gotti in 1997. When it was formed, because of it being a vanity label, Def Jam owned a 50% stake in the label.
In 2002, Irv Gotti granted Ja Rule 50% of his share of the label due to his recent success on the charts. The next year, Ja Rule was named label president while Irv is the primary owner and the label CEO.
Mpire Records
In 2006, Ja Rule formed his own label to be distributed by The Inc., Mpire Records. To the label, he has signed Young Merc, Ashley Joi, D. Gift, Boxie, Tre, Newz, and Thunderkatz. He owns 100 percent of this label, which is a subsidiary of The Inc. Also signed to the label are his group Cash Money Click.
ErvingGeoffrey
In 2004, Ja Rule teamed up with Irv Gotti to create their own clothing line, ErvingGeoffrey, which is an urban wear clothing line. It is prominently featured in various Inc-associated videos and on their artists various albums.
Philanthropy
Atkins teamed up with associates of Tupac Shakur’s organization and founded L.I.F.E Foundation, which opens its doors to underprivileged kids. The foundation has various programs which include art, music, poetry and sports.
Discography
Main article: Ja Rule discography
* 1999: Venni Vetti Vecci
* 2000: The Murderers
* 2000: Rule 3:36
* 2001: Pain Is Love
* 2002: The Inc.
* 2002: The Remixes
* 2002: The Last Temptation
* 2003: Blood in My Eye
* 2004: R.U.L.E.
* 2005: Exodus
* 2008: The Mirror
Awards history
Award Category Genre Song/Album Year Result
Source Hip-Hop Music Award Single of the Year Rap/Hip-Hop “Put It On Me” 2001 Won
Source Award R&B/Rap Collboration of the Year R&B/Rap “Thug Lovin’” 2003 Won
Source Award Fat Tape Song of the Year Rap/Hip-Hop “Clap Back” 2004 Won
MTV Video Music Award Best Rap Video Rap “Put It On Me” 2001 Nominated
MTV Video Music Award Best Hip-Hop Video Hip-Hop “Im Real (Murder Remix)” 2002 Won
MTV Video Music Award Best Hip-Hop Video Hip-Hop “Always On Time” 2002 Nominated
American Music Award Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist Rap/Hip-Hop – 2002 Nominated
American Music Award Favorite Hip-Hop/R&B Male Artist Hip-Hop/R&B – 2003 Nominated
Grammy Award Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Rap/Hip-Hop “Put It On Me” 2002 Nominated
Grammy Award Best Rap Album Rap “Pain Is Love” 2002 Nominated
Grammy Award Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Rap/Sung “Livin’ It Up” 2002 Nominated
Grammy Award Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Rap/Sung “Always On Time” 2003 Nominated
World Music Award World’s Best-Selling Rap Artist Rap/Hip-Hop – 2002 Won
BET Award Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Artist Hip-Hop – 2002 Won
GQ Men of the Year Award Musician of the Year Rap/Hip-Hop – 2002 Won
Teen Choice Award Male Artist of the Year Rap/Hip-Hop – 2002 Won
NAACP Image Award Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist Rap/Hip-Hop – 2002 Won
Soul Train Award Best Rap/Soul or Rap Album of the Year Rap “Pain Is Love” 2002 Nominated
Acting career
During his break from rapping, Ja Rule co-starred in the movie The Fast and the Furious with Vin Diesel. He appeared on the 2004 movie Back in The Day along with Ving Rhames and Pam Grier. He was also starred in the movie The Cookout with Queen Latifah. He is working on his bio-pic and on Saw IV.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Da Hip Hop Witch Himself
2000 Turn it Up David ‘Gage’ Williams
2001 Crime Partners 2000
2001 The Fast and the Furious Edwin
2002 Half Past Dead Nicolas ‘Nick’ Frazier
2003 Scary Movie 3 Agent Thompson
2003 Pauly Shore Is Dead Himself
2004 The Cookout Bling Bling
2004 Shall We Dance? Hip Hop Bar Performer
2005 Back in the Day Reggie Cooper
2005 Assault on Precinct 13 Smiley
2007 Kenny TBA post-production
2007 Furnace TBA post-production
2007 Don’t Fade Away TBA post-production
2002 – Buddy Guy is among the multiple winners at the W.C. Handy Awards, mounted by the Blues Foundation in Memphis. Guy wins for contemporary male artist of the year and blues instrumentalist of the year (guitar); his “Sweet Tea” is named contemporary blues album of the year.
2001 – Bluesman John Lee Hooker, believed to be 83, dies of natural causes at his home in Los Altos, Calif. The singer/guitarist began his career in 1949, when his Modern Records single “Boogie Chillen” became a No. 1 R&B hit.
Lyrics:
Boom boom boom boom
I’m gonna shoot you right down,
right offa your feet
Take you home with me,
put you in my house
Boom boom boom boom
A-haw haw haw haw
Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm
Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm
I love to see you strut,
up and down the floor
When you talking to me,
that baby talk
I like it like that
Whoa, yeah!
Talk that talk, walk that walk
When she walk that walk,
and talk that talk,
and whisper in my ear,
tell me that you love me
I love that talk
When you talk like that,
you knocks me out,
right off of my feet
Hoo hoo hoo
Talk that talk, and walk that walk
John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an influential American post-war blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter born in Coahoma County near Clarksdale, Mississippi. From a musical family, he was a cousin of Earl Hooker. John was also influenced by his stepfather, a local blues guitarist, who learned in Shreveport, Louisiana to play a droning, one-chord blues that was strikingly different from the Delta blues of the time. John developed a half-spoken style that was his trademark. Though similar to the early Delta blues, his music was rhythmically free. John Lee Hooker could be said to embody his own unique genre of the blues, often incorporating the boogie-woogie piano style and a driving rhythm into his masterful and idiosyncratic blues guitar and singing. His best known songs include “Boogie Chillen” (1948) and “Boom Boom” (1962).
Biography
Early life
Hooker was born on August 22, 1917 in Coahoma County near Clarksdale, Mississippi, the youngest of the eleven children of William Hooker (1871–1923), a sharecropper and a Baptist preacher, and Minnie Ramsey (1875–?). Hooker and his siblings were home-schooled. They were permitted to listen only to religious songs, with his earliest musical exposure being the spirituals sung in church. In 1921, his parents separated. The next year, his mother married William Moore, a blues singer who provided John’s first introduction to the guitar (and whom John would later credit for his distinctive playing style). The year after that (1923), John’s natural father died; and at age 15, John ran away from home, never to see his mother and stepfather again.
Throughout the 1930s, Hooker lived in Memphis where he worked on Beale Street and occasionally performed at house parties. He worked in factories in various cities during World War II, drifting until he found himself in Detroit in 1948 working at Ford Motor Company. He felt right at home near the blues venues and saloons on Hastings Street, the heart of black entertainment on Detroit’s east side. In a city noted for its piano players, guitar players were scarce. Performing in Detroit clubs, his popularity grew quickly, and seeking a louder instrument than his crude acoustic guitar, he bought his first electric guitar.
Career
Hooker’s recording career began in 1948 when his agent placed a demo disc, made by Hooker, with the Bihari brothers, owners of the Modern Records label. The company initially released an up-tempo number, “Boogie Chillen”, which became Hooker’s first hit single. Though they were not songwriters, the Biharis often purchased or claimed co-authorship of songs that appeared on their labels, thus securing songwriting royalties for themselves, in addition to their streams of income.
Sometimes these songs were older tunes renamed (B.B.King’s “Rock Me Baby”), anonymous jams (“B.B.’s Boogie”) or songs by employees (bandleader Vince Weaver). The Biharis used a number of pseudonyms for songwriting credits: Jules was credited as Jules Taub; Joe as Joe Josea; and Sam as Sam Ling. One song by John Lee Hooker, “Down Child” is solely credited to “Taub”, with Hooker receiving no credit for the song whatsoever. Another, “Turn Over a New Leaf” is credited to Hooker and “Ling”.
Despite being illiterate, Hooker was a prolific lyricist. In addition to adapting the occasionally traditional blues lyric (such as “if I was chief of police, I would run her right out of town”), he freely invented many of his songs from scratch. Recording studios in the 1950s rarely paid black musicians more than a pittance, so Hooker would spend the night wandering from studio to studio, coming up with new songs or variations on his songs for each studio. Due to his recording contract, he would record these songs under obvious pseudonyms such as “John Lee Booker”, “Johnny Hooker”, or “John Cooker.”
His early solo songs were recorded under Bernie Besman. John Lee Hooker rarely played on a standard beat, changing tempo to fit the needs of the song. This often made it difficult to use backing musicians who were not accustomed to Hooker’s musical vagaries: As a result, Besman would record Hooker, in addition to playing guitar and singing, stomping along with the music on a wooden pallet. For much of this time period he recorded and toured with Eddie Kirkland, who is still performing as of 2008. Later sessions for the VeeJay label in Chicago used studio musicians on most of his recordings, including Eddie Taylor, who could handle his musical idiosyncrasies very well. His biggest UK hit, “Boom Boom”, (originally released on VeeJay) had a horn section to boot!
He appeared and sang in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers. Due to Hooker’s improvisatory style, his performance was filmed and sound-recorded live at the scene at Chicago’s Maxwell Street Market, in contrast to the usual “playback” technique used in most film musicals. Hooker was also a direct influence in the look of John Belushi’s character Jake Blues, borrowing his trademark sunglasses and soul patch.
In 1989, he joined with a number of musicians, including Keith Richards, Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt to record The Healer, for which he and Carlos Santana won a Grammy Award. Hooker recorded several songs with Van Morrison, including “Never Get Out of These Blues Alive”, “The Healing Game” and “I Cover the Waterfront”. He also appeared on stage with Van Morrison several times, some of which was released on the live album A Night in San Francisco. The same year he appeared as the title character on Pete Townshend’s The Iron Man: A Musical.
Hooker recorded over 100 albums. He lived the last years of his life in the San Francisco Bay Area, where, in 1997, he opened a nightclub called “John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room”, after one of his hits.
He fell ill just before a tour of Europe in 2001 and died soon afterwards at the age of 83. The last song Hooker recorded before his death, is “Ali D’Oro”, a collaboration with the Italian soul singer Zucchero, in which Hooker sang the chorus “I lay down with an angel”. He was survived by eight children, nineteen grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and a nephew.
Among his many awards, Hooker has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 1991 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Two of his songs, “Boogie Chillen” and “Boom Boom” were named to the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. “Boogie Chillen” was included as one of the Songs of the Century. He was also inducted in 1980 into the Blues Hall of Fame. In 2000, Hooker was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Music
Hooker’s guitar playing is closely aligned with piano Boogie Woogie. He would play the walking bass pattern with his thumb, stopping to emphasize the end of a line with a series of trills, done by rapid hammer-ons and pull-offs. The songs that most epitomize his early sound are “Boogie Chillen”, about being 17 and wanting to go out to dance at the Boogie clubs, “Baby Please Don’t Go”, a blues standard first recorded by Big Joe Williams, and “Tupelo Blues”, a stunningly sad song about the flooding of Tupelo, Mississippi in April 1936.
He maintained a solo career, popular with blues and folk music fans of the early 1960s and crossed over to white audiences, giving an early opportunity to the young Bob Dylan. As he got older, he added more and more people to his band, changing his live show from simply Hooker with his guitar to a large band, with Hooker singing.
His vocal phrasing was less closely tied to specific bars than most blues singers’. This casual, rambling style had been gradually diminishing with the onset of electric blues bands from Chicago but, even when not playing solo, Hooker retained it in his sound.
Though Hooker lived in Detroit during most of his career, he is not associated with the Chicago-style blues prevalent in large northern cities, as much as he is with the southern rural blues styles, known as delta blues, country blues, folk blues, or “front porch blues”. His use of an electric guitar tied together the Delta blues with the emerging post-war electric blues.
His songs have been covered by The White Stripes, MC5, The Doors, George Thorogood, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, R. L. Burnside, the J. Geils Band and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
Awards and Recognition
* A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
* Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980
* Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991
Grammy Awards:
* Best Traditional Blues Recording, 1990 for “I’m in the Mood” (with Bonnie Raitt)
* Best Traditional Blues Recording, 1998 for Don’t Look Back
* Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, 1998, “Don’t Look Back” (with Van Morrison)
* Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000
* Two of his songs, “Boogie Chillen” and “Boom Boom” were named to the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. “Boogie Chillen” was included as one of the Songs of the Century.
Quotes
* “It don’t take me no three days to do no album.” (during the recording of the double album Hooker ‘N’ Heat with Canned Heat.)
* “I don’t play a lot of fancy guitar. I don’t want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks.” (when describing his own music in an article from The Daily News, Atlanta, Ga. 1992)
* “Women are like wet bars of soap. Hold on to em too hard and they pop outta your hands.” (as spoken to Randy Wilkinson in New Orleans 1983, friend and road manager)
* “His [Grateful Dead keyboardist/singer Ron 'Pig Pen' McKernan's] wife can cook but Pig can’t cook, I told him ‘Man, I can’t eat your cookin’.” (during the recording of Hooker ‘N Heat.)
* “Elvis Presley – one of the greatest people ever been born.”
Discography
Singles
Hooker issued a large number of singles, with almost a hundred releases by 1960.
Here are ten of his early classic recordings:
* Detroit September 1948 – Boogie Chillen’ – Modern 627 (11/48) R&B #1 (Crown LP “The Blues”)
* Detroit September 1948 – Hobo Blues – Modern 663 (3/49) R&B #5 (Crown LP “The Blues”)
* Detroit September 1948 – Crawling King Snake – Modern 715 (10/49) R&B #6 (Crown LP “The Blues”)
* Detroit August 7, 1951 – I’m In the Mood – Modern 835 (9/51) R&B #1 (Crown LP “The Blues”)
* Detroit Early 1955 – The Syndicator b/w Hug And Squeeze – Modern 966 (8/55) (Crown LP “Sings The Blues”)
* Chicago March 17, 1956 – Dimples – Vee-Jay 205 (8/56) (VJ LP “I’m John Lee Hooker”)
* Chicago June 10, 1958 – I Love You Honey – Vee-Jay 293 (9/58) R&B #29 (VJ LP “I’m John Lee Hooker”)
* Chicago March 1, 1960 – No Shoes – Vee-Jay 349 (4/60) R&B#21 (VJ LP “Travelin’”)
* Chicago Late 1961 – Boom Boom – Vee-Jay 438 (4/62) R&B #16 (VJ LP “Burnin’”)
* Chicago Mid 1964 – It Serves Me Right (To Suffer) – Vee-Jay 708 (11/65) (VJ/Dynasty LP “In Person”)
Albums
There are many John Lee Hooker albums out there. Below you will find the original albums with notable reissues.
THE DETROIT YEARS (recordings 1948-1955)
* 1960 – The Blues (Crown) – reissued on United, also as “The Greatest Hits” (Kent, 1971) Modern tracks
* 1960 – House Of The Blues (Chess) 1951-52 tracks
* 1961 – Sings The Blues (Crown) – reissued on United, also as “Driftin’ Thru The Blues” (Custom) Modern tracks
* 1961 – Plays And Sings The Blues (Chess) 1950-52 tracks
* 1961 – Sings Blues (King) – reissued as “Moanin’ and Stompin’”, and “Don’t You Remember Me” (Charly) Texas Slim 1948-50 tracks
* 1962 – Folk Blues (Crown) – reissued on United (Modern tracks)
* 1963 – The Great John Lee Hooker (Crown) – reissued as “The Great Blues Sounds of” (United) Modern tracks
* 1963 – Don’t Turn Me from Your Door – John Lee Hooker Sings His Blues (Atco) 1953 and 1961
* 1963 – Big Maceo Merriweather / John Lee Hooker (Fortune) 1/2 of an LP
* 1964 – Original Folk Blues (Kent) Modern compilation – reissued on United
* 1967 – John Lee Hooker & his Guitar (Advent) British bootleg; early tracks
* 1969 – No Friend Around (Red Lightnin’) early tracks, bootleg compilation
* 1970 – Alone (Specialty) 1949-1951 tracks
* 1971 – Goin’ Down Highway 51 (Specialty) 1949-1951 tracks
* 1972 – Coast to Coast Blues Band – Anywhere Anytime Anyplace (United Artists) 1948-1952 tracks
* 1972 – Johnny Lee (Greene Bottle) early Besman alternates (not issued on CD)
* 1973 – Hooker, Hopkins, Hogg (Specialty) half an LP of 1954 recordings
* 1973 – Slim’s Stomp (Polydor) King’s “Sings Blues” plus bonus tracks
* 1973 – John Lee Hooker’s Detroit (United Artists) Besman alternate 1948-1952 tracks
* 1973 – Mad Man Blues (Chess) compilation 1950s and 1966
* 1979 – Southern Blues (Savoy) 1948 tracks on half an LP
* 1981 – Blues For Big Town (Chess) compilation featuring unissed early 1950s
* 1987 – Gotham Golden Classics – Rare Recordings (Collectables) 1951-52 tracks – also issued as “Detroit Blues, 1950-51″ (Krazy Kat with bonus tracks)
* 1989 – 40th Anniversary Album (DCC) – also issued on Demon as “The Detroit Lion” (compilation of early tracks)
* 1990 – Boogie Awhile (Krazy Kat) unissued early Elmer Barbee recordings
* 1999 – Savoy Blues Legends, 1948-1949 (SavoyJazz/Atlantic) – reissued on Savoy (Elmer Barbee recordings)
* 2000 – The Unknown John Lee Hooker (Krazy Kat, 1951 tracks) – reissued as “Jack 0′Diamonds” (Eagle, 2004)
THE CHICAGO YEARS (recordings 1955-1964)
* 1959 – I’m John Lee Hooker (Vee Jay 1955-1959)
* 1960 – Travelin (Vee Jay)
* 1961 – The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker (Vee Jay)
* 1962 – Burnin’ (Vee Jay)
* 1962 – The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker (Vee Jay)
* 1962 – The Best of John Lee Hooker (Vee Jay) – compilation
* 1962 – Gold (Vee Jay) – compilation
* 1963 – John Lee Hooker On Campus (Vee Jay) – reissued as “Big Band Blues” (Buddah)
* 1965 – … And Seven Nights (Verve-Folkways) British recordings of 1964 (re-issued with brass overdub as “On The Waterfront” on Wand) – and reissued in several versions later
* 1965 – Is He The World’s Greatest Blues Singer? (Vee Jay) compilation – reissued on Exodus
* 1974 – In Person (VeeJay/Dynasty) late Vee-Jay tracks
* 1993 – John Lee Hooker on Vee-Jay 1955-1958 (VeeJay) compilation
THE FOLK YEARS (recordings 1959-1963)
* 1959 – The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker (Riverside) – reissued as “How Long Blues” (Battle, 1963)
* 1960 – That’s My Story – JLH Sings the Blues (Riverside) – reissued as “The Blues Man” (Battle, 1963)
* 1962 – John Lee Hooker (Galaxy) – reissued as “The King of Folk Blues” (America)
* 1963 – Live At Sugar Hill (Galaxy)
* 1964 – Burning Hell (Riverside) recorded 1959
* 1964 – Concert At Newport (Vee Jay) – reissued with bonus tracks as “Live At Newport” (Fantasy)
* 1966 – Teachin’ The Blues (Guest Star) half an LP of recordings from 1961
* 1969 – That’s Where It’s At! (Stax) recordings of 1961
* 1971 – Detroit Special (Atlantic) compilation (“Don’t Turn Me From Your Door” plus bonus tracks)
* 1972 – Boogie Chillun (Fantasy) (“Live at Sugar Hill” plus bonus tracks) – reissued on Ace as “Live at Sugar Hill Vol. 1 & 2″
* 1979 – Sittin’ Here Thinkin (Muse) – reissued as “Sad And Lonesome” (Savoy recordings of 1961)
* 2002 – Live At Sugar Hill, Vol. 2 (Fantasy) unissued recordings from 1961 (featuring a “third session”)
THE ABC YEARS (recordings 1965-1974)
* 1966 – It Serves You Right To Suffer (Impulse)
* 1966 – The Real Folk Blues (Chess) new Chicago recordings
* 1967 – Live at the Cafè Au Go-Go (Bluesway)
* 1968 – Urban Blues (Bluesway)
* 1969 – Simply The Truth (Bluesway)
* 1969 – If You Miss ‘Im … I Got ‘Im (Bluesway)
* 1969 – On The Waterfront (Wand) (… And Seven Nights” with brass overdub)
* 1970 – I Wanna Dance All Night (America) Europe recordings – reissued with the next as “Black Rhythm & Blues” (Festival)
* 1970 – I Feel Good (Carson) Europe recordings – reissued on Jewel (1972)
* 1971 – Endless Boogie (ABC)
* 1971 – Get Back Home In The USA (Black & Blue) Europe recordings – reissued with bonus tracks as “Get Back Home”
* 1971 – Hooker ‘N’ Heat (Liberty) – reissued as “Infinite Boogie” (Rhino)
* 1972 – Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive (ABC)
* 1972 – Live at Kabuki Wuki (Bluesway)
* 1973 – Live At Soledad Prison (ABC)
* 1973 – Born In Mississippi, Raised Up In Tennessee (ABC)
* 1974 – Free Beer And Chicken (ABC)
* 1991 – More Real Folk Blues – The Missing Album (Chess) – also issued with “The Real Folk Blues” as “The Complete Chess Folk Blues Sessions”
THE ROSEBUD YEARS (recordings 1975-2001)
* 1976 – Alone Vol 1 (Labor) live – reissued on Tomato
* 1976 – Alone – Live in New York Vol 2 (MMG) – reissued on Tomato
* 1978 – Live + Well (Ornament)
* 1978 – The Cream (Tomato) live recordings – reissued with bonus tracks on Charly
* 1979 – Live in 1978 (Lunar)
* 1981 – Hooker ‘n’ Heat Recorded Live at the Fox Venice Theatre (Rhino, various artists)
* 1986 – Jealous (Pulsa) – reissued on Pointblank 1996 – and on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
* 1989 – The Healer (Chameleon)
* 1990 – The Hot Spot (Featuring Miles Davis)
* 1991 – Mr. Lucky (Pointblank)
* 1992 – Boom Boom (Pointblank) – reissued on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
* 1995 – Chill Out (Pointblank) – reissued on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
* 1997 – Don’t Look Back (Pointblank/Virgin) – reissued on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
* 1998 – The Best of Friends (Pointblank) compilation 1986-1998 incl one new track – reissued on Shout!Factory download with bonus track
* 2003 – Face to Face (Eagle) new recordings
Selected CD Compilations
* 1990 – That’s My Story/The Folk Blues of (Ace) – the two original Riverside LPs on one CD
* 1990 – That’s Where It’s At (Stax) reissue of Florida recordings from 1961
* 1991 – The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990 (Rhino 2CDbox)
* 1991 – Half A Stranger (Mainstream) Modern tracks 1948-1955 incl unedited masters
* 1991 – Free Beer And Chicken (BeatGoesOn/MCA) recorded 1974
* 1991 – Don’t Turn Me From Your Door (Atlantic/Atco) 1953 and 1961 (incl the bonus tracks)
* 1992 – Graveyard Blues (Specialty/Ace) 1948-1950 Besman/Sensation tracks
* 1992 – The Best of John Lee Hooker 1965 to 1974 (Universal) Impulse and ABC/Bluesway recordings
* 1993 – Everybody’s Blues (Specialty/Ace) Besman tracks of 1950-51 plus two 1954 sessions direct for Specialty
* 1993 – The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (Flair/Ace) the original singles
* 1994 – The Boogie Man (Charly DIG 5) anthology box featuring 1948-1966 (excluding Modern)
* 1995 – Alternative Boogie – Early Studio Recordings, 1948-1952 (Capitol 3CD) Besman alternates
* 1996 – Live at the Café Au Go-Go (and Soledad Prison) (Universal) 1966 with Muddy Waters’ band and 1972
* 1998 – The Complete 50′s Chess Recordings (Chess 2CD) anthology featuring the tracks from “House of the Blues” and “Plays and Sings the Blues” (1951-52) plus several bonus tracks from Fortune 1954 incl “Blues For Big Town”
* 2000 – The Complete 1964 recordings (RPM) last Vee-Jay session 1964 plus British London recordings – the British tracks reissued with brass overdubs as “The London 1965 Sessions” on Sequel
* 2000 – I’m John Lee Hooker (Charly -with bonus tracks) his very first LP, 1955-1959 recordings – reissued on SNAP in 2003 and without bonus tracks on Shout!Factory in 2007
* 2000 – Travelin’ (Charly -with bonus tracks) the great LP session of 1960- reissued on SNAP in 2003
* 2000 – The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker (Charly -with bonus tracks) his third VJ LP – reissued on SNAP in 2003
* 2000 – Burnin’ (Charly -with bonus tracks) the fourth VJ LP, 1962 – reissued on SNAP in 2003
* 2000 – The Complete – Vol. 1 1948-49 [Body & Soul 2CD]
* 2000 – The Complete – Vol. 2 1949 [Body & Soul 2CD]
* 2001 – The Complete – Vol. 3 1949-50 [Body & Soul 2CD]
* 2001 – House Rent Boogie (Ace) Modern compilation of rare early 1950s recordings
* 2001 – Testament – 3CDbox featuring some of the very best Vee-Jay recordings (Charly/Snapper)
* 2002 – The Complete – Vol. 4 1950-51 [Body & Soul 2CD]
* 2002 – The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues (Chess) 1966 recordings; reissue of the 1991 CD “The Complete Chess Folk Blues Sessions”
* 2003 – Boogie Chillen’ (Audio Fidelity) 1949 – 1952 Besman and Siracuse (engineer) compilation
* 2003 – Blues Kingpins – Blues Immortal (Virgin) 1948-1955 Modern anthology
* 2004 – Early Years – The Classic Savoy Sessions (Metro Doubles 2CD) recorded 1948 and 1961 – comprising the tracks from “Savoy Blues Legends” (Savoy in 1999 and 2003) and the 1961 Savoy recordings from “Sittin’ Here Thinkin’” (32Blues in 2004 with the bonus track)
* 2004 – I’m A Boogie Man (Varése Sarabande) Vintage 1948 – 1953 Texas Slim and John Lee Booker (King/DeLuxe tracks featuring all the King singles)
* 2004 – The Complete – Vol. 5 1951-53 [Body & Soul 2CD]
* 2005 – The Complete – Vol. 6 1953-54 [Body & Soul 2CD]
* 2006 – Hooker (a terrific 4CD Box chronological anthology covering his whole career) (Shout!Factory)
* 2006 – The Boogie Man 1948 – 1955 (Charly 4 CDBox) – not identical to Charly’s rare CD DIG 5 (but this time also featuring Modern recordings)
* 2007 – Gold (Hip-O Select 2CD) 1948-2001 chronological anthology
2001 – Rockabilly singer Malcolm Yelvington dies of heart failure in Memphis at the age of 82. Yelvington recorded for Sam Phillips’ Sun Records in the early ’50s; his label debut, “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee,” was released at the same time as Elvis Presley’s bow for Sun.
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