Chico Banks

Chico Banks
Birth name	Vernon X. Banks
Born	March 7, 1962(1962-03-07) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died	December 4, 2008(2008-12-04) (aged 46) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Chicago blues, electric blues[1]
Occupations	Guitarist, singer
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	Late 1970s–2007
Labels	Evidence

Chico Banks (March 7, 1962 – December 4, 2008)^[2] was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer. Banks released one album in 1997 on Evidence Records, but played with plenty of other blues musicians, from his late teens to his death at the age of 46.

He is best known for his tracks "Your Fine" and "Candy Lickin' Man".^[2] He was the son of fellow guitarist, Jessie Banks, who played backing to Mighty Clouds of Joy. One commentator noted that Banks "focuses on good-time, upbeat blues".^[1]

Biography

He was born Vernon X. Banks in Chicago, Illinois, United States.^[1]

Banks was inspired by Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Clay, George Benson and Tyrone Davis. However, his blues guitar playing also incorporated both jazz and funk stylings. Banks first played in a covers group in his mid teens. He later worked with Melvin Taylor, James Cotton, Little Milton, Magic Slim, and Big Time Sarah, as well as both Guy and Clay. He also contributed towards the Long Way to Ol' Miss album, recorded in 1996 by Willie Kent.^[1]

His own 1997 debut album, Candy Lickin' Man, released on Evidence, saw Banks play alongside Mavis Staples.^[3] In 2002, Banks played on Lee "Shot" Williams' album, Let the Good Times Roll, and the following year on Tyrone Davis' album, Come to Daddy.^[4]

In 2007, Banks underwent surgery for a faulty heart valve.^[5]

Banks died in Chicago in December 2008.^[2][5]

See also

• List of Chicago blues musicians
• List of electric blues musicians

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Richard Skelly. "Chico Banks". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p276238. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Rock, Doc" (2008). "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2008 July to December". thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Accessed October 14, 2011
3. ^ "Allmusic ((( Candy Lickin' Man > Review )))". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r317277/review. 
4. ^ "Allmusic ((( Chico Banks > Credits )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p276238/credits. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Linda Cain. "Chicago blues guitarist Vernon "Chico" Banks dies at age 47". Chicagobluesguide.com. http://www.chicagobluesguide.com/news/chico-banks-obit/chico-banks-obit-page.html. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 

Persondata
Name	Banks, Vernon X.
Alternative names	Banks, Chico
Short description	American Chicago blues guitarist
Date of birth	March 7, 1962
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Date of death	December 4, 2008
Place of death	Chicago, Illinois, United States