Mighty Joe Young (musician)

For other uses of terms redirecting here, see Mighty Joe Young (disambiguation)

Mighty Joe Young
Mighty Joe Young in 1976
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Young
Born	September 23, 1927(1927-09-23) Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Died	March 27, 1999(1999-03-27) (aged 71) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Chicago blues[1]
Occupations	Musician, singer, guitarist
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1950s-1980s
Labels	Sonet Delmark Blind Pig Fire Various

Mighty Joe Young (September 23, 1927 – March 27, 1999^[2]) was an American Chicago blues guitarist.^[1] Born Joseph Young in Shreveport, Louisiana, he died in Chicago, Illinois.^[2] Though born in Louisiana, Young was raised in Milwaukee. He first began playing in the early 1950s by singing in Milwaukee nightclubs. By the mid 1950s, Young had recorded his first song for Jiffy Records in Louisiana.

Before Young became known for his contributions to blues, he was training to become a boxer.

Young was one of the busiest sidemen in Chicago from the late 1950s.^[3] He was in Otis Rush's band for several years in the 1960s, and played on Magic Sam's albums, West Side Soul and Black Magic.^[3] He recorded his own solo album, Blues with a Touch of Soul, for Delmark Records in 1971.^[3] Young also worked alongside Willie Dixon, Billy Boy Arnold and Jimmy Rogers.^[3] Young's song, "Turning Point", appeared in the Michael Mann feature film, Thief (1981).

Young died in March 1999 at the age of 71, from a complication of spinal surgery which he hoped would restore his ability to play the guitar.^[2]

Discography

• Blues with a Touch of Soul (Delmark) - 1971
• Legacy of the Blues, Vol. 4 (Sonet) - 1972
• Chicken Heads (Ovation) - 1974
• Mighty Joe Young (Ovation) - 1976
• Bluesy Josephine (Black and Blue) - 1976
• Love Gone (Ovation) - 1978
• Live at the Wise Fools Pub (Aim Trading Group) - 1978
• Mighty Man (Blind Pig) - 1997

See also

• List of nicknames of blues musicians

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed May 2009
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1-85868-255-X. 

External links

• Mini biography at Allaboutjazz.com
• Illustrated Mighty Joe Young discography
• Obituaries at Elvispelvis.com
• Mini biography at Elvispelvis.com

Persondata
Name	Young, Mighty Joe
Alternative names
Short description	American Chicago blues guitarist
Date of birth	September 23, 1927
Place of birth	Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Date of death	March 27, 1999
Place of death	Chicago, Illinois, United States