Junior Wells
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Junior Wells
(December 9, 1934 – January 15, 1998)
Junior was one hard-driving, bad man harp player whose career spanned
40 years. He began playing as a kid around Memphis, learning from among
others, harmonica legends Little Junior Parker and
Sonny Boy Williamson II, two
of the greatest harp players to have lived. He got into a Blues
band called the Deuces with a pair of brothers, which eventually became
The Aces. He joined Muddy Water's band
after Little Walter left following the smash
success of his instrumental harmonica hit,
"Juke".
Wells had a long and illustrious recording career, with a number of hits with help from a variety of blues legends such as Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon. In 1965, Junior released his most famous work, Hoodoo Man Blues, with Buddy Guy playing lead guitar. For years, the Buddy Guy / Junior Wells pair were synonymous with each other, not to mention great Blues. They opened for The Rolling Stones, were idolized (and later had a record produced) by Eric Clapton. In 1997, a year before his death, Wells recorded "Come on in This House", which won a W.C. Handy award, and had a cameo part in the film Blues Brothers 2000, which was released immediately after his death.
Notable songs by Junior Wells
Messin' With The Kid
Hoodoo Man Blues
Come On In This House
Notable Movies with Junior Wells
Blues Brothers 2000
Notable Books on Junior Wells
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