John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker ( ) Influential American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His driving, rhythm-focused boogie style of guitar playing was a forerunner to rock ‘n’ roll Influenced many rock acts such as The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Canned Heat, The Yardbirds, The Animals, as well as many other musicians including B.B. King and Santana

Beginnings Born near Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1917 to a family of sharecroppers Father was a Baptist preacher that allowed his children only to listen to religious music Was taught to play guitar and the blues by his stepfather, Will Moore. Ran away from home as a teenager, taking work in various cities before eventually ending up in Detroit in 1943

Career Big break came in 1948 when he caught the attention of a Detroit record shop owner, who took him to the owner the record company Sensation Records Hooker’s debut release that same year, “Boogie Chillen,” became a huge hit Other hits followed, such as “Crawlin’ King Snake,” “Dimples,” and “Boom Boom” Hooker continued to record and tour up until his death in 2001

John Lee Hooker’s Style Boogie rhythm Electric guitar – both solo or with a backing band Syncopated guitar riffs Some of his songs used twelve-bar form, some did not Often used just one or two chords per song Unique style not easily categorized as one type of blues – associated with urban blues, Delta blues, hill country blues, and electric blues

John Lee Hooker “King of Boogie” Boogie-Woogie: Piano-based blues form in which the left hand plays a driving, repeated pattern and the right hand plays higher notes, often repeating figures of its own Hooker’s boogie style on guitar has similarities to this (such as a driving, repeated pattern), but was a unique take on it His driving, rhythm-focused boogie style influenced rock and roll and is arguably the most famous element of his music

“Boogie Chillen” (1948) Topped R&B charts in 1949 Solo performance Song that launched his career /watch?v=G4pp02_GN9 A Listen for: Driving rhythm Ostinato Focus on one chord Alternation between spoken and sung verses

“Boom Boom” 1961 Hooker’s most famous song Listen for: 12-bar blues form Stop-time hook Addition of ensemble, including piano Call-and-response pattern between voice and instruments com/watch?v=wSnQ0 bdHW0s com/watch?v=wSnQ0 bdHW0s

Awards Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 Inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 Winner of four Grammy Awards Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Bibliography Pareles, Jon. “John Lee Hooker, Bluesman, Is Dead at 83.” The New York Times Online. 22 June Web. 23 Nov Adams, Michael. "John Lee Hooker." Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia (2013): Research Starters. Web. 23 Nov "John Lee Hooker." Encyclopedia of World Biography Encyclopedia.com. 2 Dec John Lee Hooker. “John Lee Hooker.” Rolling Stone Online. Rolling Stone Web. 24 Nov “The History.” John Lee Hooker. John Lee Hooker Foundation Web. 24 Nov Drozdowski, Ted. “How John Lee Hooker Got his Big Bad Boogie Style.” Gibson. Gibson Guitar Corp. 7 Aug Web. 24 Nov