January 15, 1998
CHICAGO (AP) -- Junior Wells, a pioneer in blues harmonica who helped
define the Chicago sound, died Thursday.
He was 63.
Wells died after a four month battle with lymphoma, said his manager, Marty Salzman.
Wells, known for his unique harmonica style and musical sense of adventure, has influenced generations of blues harmonica players.
He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 9, 1934, and raised in Arkansas. He moved to Chicago in 1946 and first made his mark playing in the Muddy Waters' band.
Before he became ill in September, he had completed scenes for the movie "Blues Brothers 2000" and also recorded a track for a Rolling Stones tribute album called "Paint It Blue: Songs of the Rolling Stones."
Bluesmen Luther Allison and Johnny Copeland died after recording their final tracks for that same album.
Last year, Wells' "Come on in This House" won the W.C. Handy Blues Award for traditional blues album. The record also was nominated for a traditional blues Grammy.
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Blues-harmonica legend Junior Wells, famed for his tireless touring schedule
and
work with artists such as Buddy Guy and the Rolling Stones, died Thursday
in a
Chicago hospital after struggling for several months with lymphatic cancer.
He was 63.
Mr. Wells had been under doctors' care for lymphoma last
September when he went into cardiac arrest and
subsequently fell into a coma.
The harp player, whose financial generosity was
well-known throughout the blues community, was heard
most recently on the Rolling Stones tribute album Paint It
Blue, for which he recorded a smoldering version of "(I
Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Mr. Wells also has a role in
the soon-to-be-released film "Blues Brothers 2000." In
addition, his latest album, Live At Buddy Guy's Legends,
was recently nominated for a Grammy award in the Best
Traditional Blues Album category.
"He had such a power in him, such emotive presence,
that even listening to him on a record you could almost
see him," harmonica player Sugar Blue told the
Associated Press.
Mr. Wells was born Amos Blackmore in 1934, in
Memphis, Tenn. As a child, he played harp in Memphis,
learning the instrument from Junior Parker before his
family headed to the electric blues Mecca of Chicago.
An oft-repeated tale about Mr. Wells says that, as a young
boy, he saw a $2 harmonica in a store. Since he only had
$1.50 to his name, he laid his money on the counter,
grabbed the harp and ran. Mr. Wells was soon nabbed by
police, but after a judge heard Mr. Wells play, the judge is
said to have handed the shop owner the 50-cent balance
and told Mr. Wells to be on his way.
By age 18, Mr. Wells had joined the band of blues great
Muddy Waters, with whom he recorded his first solo hit,
the classic "Hoodoo Man." With later songs such as
"Messin' With the Kid" and "Little By Little," Mr. Wells
de-emphasized his harp and concentrated instead on his
sensual vocals.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Wells played on and off with
guitarist Buddy Guy. Together the pair released more than
a half-dozen albums, including the Buddy Guy and Junior
Walker Play the Blues, which featured guest Eric
Clapton. The bluesmen maintained a fruitful relationship,
and Wells' Live At Buddy Guy's Legends was recorded at
his friend's Chicago nightclub.
Prior to that, Mr. Wells' previous album, Come On In This
House, received a 1996 Grammy nomination for Best
Traditional Blues Album.
Mr. Wells has long been cited by non-blues musicians
such as Carlos Santana and Van Morrison as an
important influence. During the 1970s, both Mr. Wells and
Guy were invited by the Rolling Stones to open several
tour dates for the superstar rock-band. More recently, a
sample of Mr. Wells' harp-playing from the song "Snatch It
Back And Hold It" was used prominently in the song
"Mama's Always On Stage" on Arrested Development's
1992 multi-platinum debut, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In The Life Of....
Having eschewed parental pressure to pursue a career
in gospel music, Wells began playing
harmonica in the streets of West Memphis, inspired by local heroes
Howlin' Wolf and Junior Parker.
Having followed his mother to Chicago in 1946, the young musician won
the respect of senior figures
of the blues fraternity, including Tampa Red, Big Maceo and Sunnyland
Slim.
Wells formed a trio, initially known as the Little
Chicago Devils, then the Three Deuces,
with Louis Myers (guitar) and David Myers (bass). Later known as the
Three Aces, the group became
a popular attraction, especially with the addition of drummer Fred
Below. Their reputation reached
Little Walter, harmonica player with Muddy Waters, who was about to
embark on a solo career.
Walter appropriated the Aces as his backing group, while Junior joined
Muddy on tour.
The exchange was not irrevocable as the Aces accompanied
Wells on his first solo sessions,
credited to Junior Wells And His Eagle Rockers, which included the
original version of Hoodoo Man,
a song the artist would return to over the years.
A spell in the US Army then interrupted his progress,
but Wells resumed recording in 1957 with the first
of several releases undertaken for local entrepreneur Mel London.
These included Little By Little (1960)
and the excellent Messin' With The Kid (1960) the latter which featured
guitarist Earl Hooker, but Wells's
most fruitful partnership was forged in 1965 when he began a long association
with Buddy Guy.
HOODOO MAN BLUES consummated their relationship and
this superb set, one of the finest
Chicago blues albums, featured Wells's sterling harmonica work and
Guy's exemplary, supportive guitar playing.
Subsequent releases, including ON TAP, SOUTH SIDE BLUES JAM and IT'S
MY LIFE BABY, although
less fiery, were nonetheless impressive, and the group became popular
with both black and white audiences,
the latter through appearances on the rock circuit.
In the Billboard R&B chart he scored well with
Up In Heah (1966) and You're Tuff Enough (1968).
By the end of the '60s Wells and Guy were sharing top billing, while
a release as BUDDY AND THE
JUNIORS denoted their association with pianist Junior Mance. However,
Guy's growing reputation resulted
in a diminution of this democratic approach and the harmonica player's
role was increasingly viewed as
supportive.
By the early '90s, the partnership was dissolved.
Wells was an impressive stylist and he remains,
with Little Walter and Sonny Boy ‘Rice Miller’ Williamson a leading
practitioner of post-war blues harmonica.
Chicago blues legend Junior Wells passed away this evening at the age of 63 after a four month battle with lymphoma. Bluesman is the only job he had held for the last 49 years. It s all he ever wanted to be and he attained the ultimate respect and status in his genre. He will be forever remembered for his flamboyant style of dress , his unforgettable live performances, over thirty classic recordings, his unique style of blues harp wizardry, his song writing, and his humility. Junior never lost touch with his many fans and always had time for an autograph, an impromptu lesson or a story. He made a difference.
Marty Salzman, Junior's manager