• Aug. 22, 1917-June 21, 2001
• A famous blues guitarist born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Hooker started recording in 1948 under numerous names. He is one of the most recorded musicians in history, and has worked with many different record labels.
• He died on the same day as actor Carroll O'Connor, the actor who played Archie Bunker. Coincidentally, their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are right next to each other.
• His father was a preacher who believed that the blues was the "devil's music."
• He was taught guitar by his stepfather, Will Moore.
• His first instrument was a tire tube nailed to a barn door.
• Some of the aliases he recorded as in his early days: John Lee Booker, Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam, Johnny Williams, and His Magic Guitar. He also many nicknames over the years, including the Boogie Man, the Hook, the King of the Boogie, and the Crawlin' Kingsnake.
• T-Bone Walker gave Hooker his first electric guitar.
• Hooker continued playing live up until his death.
• He composed songs for movies like G.I. Jane and City of Angels. His only actual appearance in a movie was in The Blues Brothers.
• He is in the Blues Hall Of Fame and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 3

• Hendrixlover from Does It Matter?, Caim surprised at how little people have heard about john lee hooker. hes awesome!
• Chad from Reading, PaI can't beleive more people don't listen to this guy. He was so much better than any Blues artist ever. B. B. King sucks next to him.
• Don from Pittsburgh, PaSimply the best blues voice ever!!!! Listen to the album "The Healer. Especially, on a rainy Sunday morning with your wife/girlfriend in your arms. If that doesn't get you in the "mood for Love" you better check and see if you still got a pulse.

More Songfacts:

Ballroom BlitzSweet

Sweet's hit "Ballroom Blitz" was inspired by an incident in 1973 when the band were performing in Scotland and driven offstage by a barrage of bottles.

Black StarAvril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne has a perfume named after her song "Black Star." It smells much better than her Sk8er Boi scent, which reeks of Axe body spray and road grime.

Party DollBuddy Knox & the Rhythm Orchids

The rockabilly sound was big in the late 1950s, when Buddy Holly was popular. One of the biggest hits in that genre was the #1 "Party Doll" by Buddy Knox, which used a cardboard box filled with cotton as the drums.

Sunday GirlBlondie

"Sunday Girl" was written by Blondie guitarist Chris Stein to cheer up Debbie Harry after her cat had run away whilst they were away on tour. The gray cat was called Sunday Man.

Let The Day BeginThe Call

Al Gore chose an inspiring but obscure campaign song when he ran for president in 2000: "Let The Day Begin" by The Call.

Just Can't Get EnoughThe Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas shot the video for "Just Can't Get Enough" in Japan just a week before a devastating earthquake hit the country.

Editor's Picks

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.