Junior Wells (Amos Blakemore)

Born:  12/09/1934   Died:  01/15/1998 

Junior was a hard driving harmonica player, vocalist, bandleader, composer and producer.  He took his harp and mike and made sounds musicians today are trying to duplicate.  He had his own style of playing and gives credit to Sony Boy I & II, Little Walter, and Big Walter Horton.  In '53 & '54 at 19 and 20 years on age, Junior recorded a number of hit tunes including Hoodoo Man.  Junior was supported by other musicians as Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Otis Spann.

Junior's first album was recorded in 1966, Hoodoo Man Blues.  This album is still considered one of the best blues albums ever recorded and is a must for every serious collector.

Junior and Buddy Guy teamed up in 1966 and toured the world with their brand of Chicago Blues, and becoming the most famous blues team.  They opened for the Rolling Stones in 1970 and recorded Drinkin' TNT 'n' Smokin' Dynamite at the Montreauz Jazz Festival in 1974 with Bill Wyman, Pinetop Perkins, Dallas Taylor and Terry Taylor backing them up.  Billbord's editors chose that album as one of the best ten of the year, it is considered one of the best documentations of a live blues performance.

Junior was an intense harp player, vocalist and showman.  He would take you way down in the alley with his gut wrenching slow blues, and then wring your emotions dry and leave you begging for more.  Junior has influenced every harp player to follow him.  Junior's style was his own as the way he dressed, his hats, suits and that earned him to be "The Godfather of the Blues - The King of the Mississippi Sax".  Junior was and still is the "Blues Man to the World".