JUNIOR WELLS

 

 JUNIOR WELLS

Junior Wells nació en Memphis (Tennessee, Estados Unidos) y creció en West Memphis (Arkansas), aunque algunas fuentes indican que nació en West Memphis. Wells aprendió a tocar la armónica a la edad de siete años con una habilidad sorprendente, primero con su primo Junior Parker, y luego con Sonny Boy Williamson II. En 1948, tras el divorcio de su madre, ambos emigraron a Chicago, donde Wells comenzó a tocar con músicos locales, tanto en fiestas familiares como en tabernas.

Salvaje y rebelde, pero muy demandado por su talento, comenzó a tocar con The Aces (grupo de los hermanos guitarristas Dave y Louis Myers y el baterista Fred Below), desarrollando un estilo más moderno y amplificado influenciado por Little Walter. En 1952 hizo su primera grabación, reemplazando a Little Walter en la banda de Muddy Waters y apareciendo en una de las sesiones de Muddy para Chess Records. Sus primeras grabaciones como líder de banda fueron hechas durante los años siguientes para States Records. 

A finales de la década de 1950 y principios de la de 1960, Wells también grabó discos sencillos para Chief Records y su subsidiaria Profile Records, incluyendo "Messin' with the Kid", "Come on in This House" y "It Hurts Me Too", las cuales mantendría en su repertorio a través de su carrera. Su sencillo de los años 60 "Little by Little" (escrito por su productor, Mel London) alcanzó el número 23 en la lista de Billboard R&B, siendo el primero de dos sencillos de Wells que entraron en dicha lista.

Junior Wells was possibly born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, and raised in West Memphis, Arkansas, though other sources report that his birth was in West Memphis, Arkansas. Initially taught by his cousin, Junior Parker, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, Wells learned how to play the harmonica by the age of seven with surprising skill. He moved to Chicago in 1948 with his mother after her divorce and began sitting in with local musicians at house parties and taverns. Wild and rebellious but needing an outlet for his talents, he began performing with The Aces (guitarist brothers Dave and Louis Myers and drummer Fred Below) and developed a more modern amplified harmonica style influenced by Little Walter. In 1952, he made his first recordings, when he replaced Little Walter in Muddy Waters' band and appeared on one of Muddy's sessions for Chess Records in 1952. His first recordings as a band leader were made in the following year for States Records. 

In the later 1950s and early 1960s he also recorded singles for Chief Records and its Profile Records subsidiary, including "Messin' with the Kid", "Come on in This House", and "It Hurts Me Too", which would remain in his repertoire throughout his career. His 1960 Profile single "Little by Little" (written by Chief owner and producer Mel London) reached #23 in the Billboard R&B chart, making it the first of two Wells' singles to enter the chart.

Wells' album Hoodoo Man Blues (1965) on Delmark Records featured Buddy Guy on guitar. The two worked with the Rolling Stones on several occasions in 1970s. His album South Side Blues Jam came out in 1971) and On Tap in 1975. His 1996 release Come On in This House includes slide guitarists, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Derek Trucks, and others. Wells made an appearance in the film Blues Brothers 2000, the sequel to The Blues Brothers, which was released in 1998. Read more.....

Junior Wells music. Press PLAY