John Lee Hooker was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on August 22, 1917. As a child he sang in church, and later in adolescence showed a interest in gospel music. Around the age of fifteen he left Mississippi for Memphis. At Memphis, Hooker worked as an usher in a theatre and played his guitar on street corners for change. He returned to Mississippi, but shortly after Hooker left again for Cincinnati, where he sang in many gospel groups. In 1943, Hooker then decided to move once again, this time to Detroit. He worked as a janitor at an automotive plant. For John Lee Hooker things could have
… More been going a lot better. But then he was discovered by a record store owner. Elmer Barbee, the record store owner, took him to Bernard Besman. Bernard Besman was a producer, record distributor and most important of all, owner of Sensation Records. Besman then leased some of Hooker's recordings to Modern Records. In 1948, "Boogie Chillin" became a number one jukebox hit, and his first million seller. "I'm In The Mood" soon followed which was a even bigger hit. "Crawlin Kingsnake" wasn't his biggest hit, but still worthy of mentioning. Another surge in his career took place with the release of more than one hundred on songs on Vee Jay Records. John Lee Hooker recorded new material extensively between 1949 and 1952. His music appeared on a handful of labels and a large variety of pseudonyms. Some of them includes Birmingham Sam, Delta John, Texas Slim, Johnny Lee and John Lee Booker. Despite the multiple name changes Hooker never changed his sound. He always stuck with his Mississippi Blues, half spoken style. His guitar work was simple in structure. But supported by the rhythmic stomping of his feet gave his songs a more intense feeling. Mr. John Lee Hooker's life was full of great accomplishments. A star of his own was dedicated on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk Of Fame. He also received a Blues Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. John Lee Hooker also appeared in a national TV Pepsi Cola Campaign. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. He was a great influence on several generations of prominent musicians. He passed away on the morning of June 21, 2001 in the San Francisco area at his home. He was 83 and he died of natural causes. John Lee Hooker remains a musical legend. As Time Magazine once stated, "John Lee Hooker doesn't just sing the Blues, and he doesn't just play the blues… he is the blues".
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