Junior Wells

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Junior Wells


Img_capt = Cover of Junior Wells' posthumous 2000 "Calling All Blues" album.
Img_size =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Amos Blakemore
Alias = Junior
Born = birth date|1934|12|9|mf=y
Died = death date and age|1998|1|15|1934|12|9|mf=y
Origin = Memphis, Tennessee
Instrument = Harmonica
Genre = Blues
Occupation =
Years_active = 1950's - 1990's
Label = Delmark Records
Vanguard Records
Telarc Records
Associated_acts = The Aces
Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band
Buddy Guy
URL = http://www.delmark.com/rhythm.junior.htm
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Junior Wells (December 9, 1934 – January 15, 1998), born Amos Blakemore, was a blues vocalist and harmonica player based in Chicago who was famous for playing with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison among others.

Life and career

He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Arkansas. Intially influenced by fellow Memphian Junior Parker, and both Sonny Boy Williamsons, Wells moved to Chicago in 1948 and began sitting in with local musicians at house parties and taverns. He began performing with The Aces (guitarist brothers Dave and Louis Myers and drummer Fred Below) and developed a more modern amplified harmonica style influenced by Little Walter. He made his first recordings at age 18, when he briefly replaced Little Walter in Muddy Waters' band and appeared on one of Muddy's sessions in 1952. His first recordings as a band leader were made in the following year for States Records; in the later '50s and early '60s he also recorded singles for other local Chicago labels. He worked with Buddy Guy in the 1960s and recorded his first album for Delmark Records. His most memorable songs are "Messin' With The Kid" and "Little by Little," which were written and composed by Chicago blues producer Mel London. His best-known album is 1965's "Hoodoo Man Blues" on Delmark Records, which featured Buddy Guy on guitar and evokes the smoky atmosphere of the era's Westside Chicago blues bars.

Wells made an appearance in the 1998 movie "Blues Brothers 2000", the sequel to "The Blues Brothers". The movie was released less than a month after his death.

On his passing from lymphoma in 1998, Junior Wells was interred in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.

Album discography

:(† featuring Buddy Guy)
*"Hoodoo Man Blues" † (1965)
*"It's My Life, Baby!" † (1966)
*"Chicago/The Blues/Today!" vol. 1 † (1966)
*"On Tap" (1974)
*"You're Tuff Enough" (1968)
*"Coming at You" † (1968)
*"Live at the Golden Bear" (1969)
*"Southside Blues Jam" † (1969)
*"Buddy and the Juniors" † (1970)
*"In My Younger Days" (1972)
*"Buddy Guy & Junior Wells Play the Blues" † (1972)
*"Live At Montreux" † (1977)
*"Blues Hit Big Town" (1977)
*"Pleading the Blues" † (1979)
*"Got To Use Your Head" (1979)
*"Drinkin' TNT 'n' Smokin' Dynamite" † (1982)
*"The Original Blues Brothers" (1983)
*"Messin’ With The Kid, Vol 1" (1986)
*"Universal Rock" (1986)
*"Chiefly Wells" (1986)
*"Harp Attack!" (1990)
*"1957-1966" (1991)
*"Alone & Acoustic" † (1991)
*"Undisputed Godfather of the Blues" (1993)
*"Better Off with the Blues" † (1993)
*"Messin’ With The Kid 1957-63" (1995)
*"Everybody's Getting' Some" (1995)
*"Come on in This House" (1997)
*"Live at Buddy Guy's Legends" (1997)
*"Keep On Steppin’: The Best Of…" (1998)
*"Best Of The Vanguard Years" (1998)
*"Masters" (1998)
*"Buddy Guy & Junior Wells" † (1998)
*"Last Time Around – Last Time at Legends" (1998)
*"Junior Wells & Friends" (1999)
*"Every Day I Have The Blues" (2000)
*"Calling All Blues" (2000)
*"Buddy Guy & Junior Wells" † (2001)
*"Best Of.." (2001)
*"Live at Theresa's 1975" (2006)

ee also

* Chicago Blues Festival

External links

* [http://centerstage.net/music/whoswho/JuniorWells.html Centerstage Chicago Obituary]
* [http://elvispelvis.com/junior.htm Elvis Pelvis Obituary]
* [http://www.island.net/~blues/junior.html Island Net Obituary]
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