Another blues great passes...

I was deeply sadden when I heard about the recent death of John Lee Hooker. I have been listening to his music since I was a teenager. I was born in 1948 the same year he first recorded his first record "Boogie Chillen", it went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1949. He had that unusal sound that you rarely ever hear, you could feel the hurt and pain in his voice when he sang. I went to my collection of John Lee Hooker cds and lps and for the first time I counted how many I had, a total of 104. Couldn't believe it. I will miss him dearly. I am reminded of a quote in Henry Miller's book "The Time of the Assassins" a study on the French poet Rimbaud when he says "He is like a nova which appears suddenly grows to terrifying brilliance, then plunges to earth" In John Lee's case he burned for 80 plus years.

I've reached the dubious stage in life where I've been watching all of the great blues singers and jazz artists that I grew up listening to passing from the scene. On the one hand, it's sad, but how fortunate that we've lived in a time when their music was recorded for posterity. When jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd died last December, I grieved a bit because I took guitar lessons from Charlie when I was in high school, and I've always loved his music. John Lee's death has also bothered me, but for different reasons. He was probably the last of the truly great Mississippi delta blues stylists, and there is no one who will replace him.

"Sad, sad day..." to paraphrase M.Water. At home we always referred to J-L as "granddad" ("let's spin some granddad and boogie...").

Heard the news on the radio this morning. I had no idea he was in his 80's already!

jd

Very sad to hear, but thanks for the notice Sd. John Lee Hooker was certainly one of the all time great Bluesmen. I'll spin his music until I die. Craig

"Doin' everything the Dr. told me not to do, drinkin' bout a quart a day" (John Lee Hooker)

Sd, bad, bad news but thanks for posting nonetheless.

John was my absolute favorite among many, many blues favorites. In fact, this week he has dominated my choices in music -- I think I've spinned him every day. Today I listened to "Boom Boom", "Mr. Lucky" and "Hooker and Heat" (with Canned Heat). Fell asleep last night to the Rykodisc compilation "The Ultimate Collection".

Rest assured, he will boogie woogie with the angels.

Maybe we should all partake in "whisky and women" as a tribute. As if we don't anyway.