Hooker, exactly who indeed is actually a sibling off John Lee’s, was given birth to toward January fifteen, 1929, only exterior Clarksdale, Mississippi

The guy filed numerous singles lower than his or her own label, but for many part, the guy starred once the a guitar player along with other vocalists and you can artisans, as he is actually, by many people levels, not an exceptionally significant organization artist themselves

These are merely a number of the accolades you to definitely Earl Zebedee Hooker, a highly-regarded Chicago organization guitar player and you may artist, has had historically.

He and his awesome family members transferred to il quickly afterwards, just like the did many other African-People in the us on the Southern area All of us interested in job and careers. Hooker began teaching themselves a guitar from the period of ten, and also by his middle-teenagers, he was apparently to relax and play this new blues on roadways from Chicago, commonly having contemporaries like Junior Wells and you can Bo Diddley. Since the Chicago Blues voice started to progress from its Delta/nation blues roots or take contour regarding the late ’40s, Hooker are particularly dependent on blues guitar virtuosos T-Limbs Walker and you can Robert Nighthawk; in reality, the guy read his techniques out-of to relax and play fall electric guitar from inside the standard drums tuning (rather than the open tunings generally favoured by the other slip members, including Dirty Seas and you may Bukka Light) right from Nighthawk.

Regarding 1950s, Hooker began recording professionally. By later 1950s, Hooker try a portion of the home band to possess Mel London’s Chief label group, to play guitar towards the courses for almost all regarding Chief’s artisans, and additionally Junior Wells, saxophonist An effective.C. Reed, and you will keyboardist Johnny “Big Moose” Walker, in addition to recording his own solamente (will crucial) recordings. One particular important tape, titled “Blue Electric guitar”, arose out-of a warm-right up jam course, and you can concerned the attention regarding Leonard Chess (off Chess Records, Chicago’s up coming-leading independent organization/RB name) whether or not it are then put out once the one; that have London’s blessing, Chess had Dirty Waters overdub a vocal part more Hooker’s crucial single, together with effects is “Your Shook Me”, certainly one of Dirty Waters’ enduring classic strikes.

Regarding later ’60s, he gone back to the new Chicago organization world after other tuberculosis flare and ensuing hiatus

Hooker’s occupation was frequently interrupted which have bouts away from tuberculosis, which he got almost certainly developed at an early age when you find yourself living inside sub-optimal standards during the il. The guy starred towards the coaching to other artisans, together with relative John Lee Hooker and Andrew “Large Sound” Odom, and filed their own records for Arhoolie Info, Blue Thumb Information, and you may ABC-Bluesway Facts. Hooker also reached journey Eruope from inside the 1969 within the brand new American Visitors Organization Event (video footage of which could have been released expertly and you can almost certainly is going to be entirely on YouTube as well), for the blues’ increasing popularity one of receptive European people. Unfortunately, Hooker passed away regarding tuberculosis in April away from 1970 from the age of 41.

Hooker’s trademark sound basically consisted of a clear, ringing voice (constantly away from Gibson instruments, even if he plus played good Fender Stratocaster, a beneficial Danelectro twice-shoulder drums, and you will a beneficial Univox Les Paul duplicate gutar at differing times of their occupation), which have fluid and timely guitar outlines alternating that have effortless, melodic fall guitar. He was equally expert in a number of different organization styles, as the evidenced because of the his engagement since an appointment beginner guitarist with many some other organization designers (from Sonny Terry Brownie McGhee in order to Large Moose Walker), plus types since the varied as jazz and nation (reportedly, he had been able to hold down a country concert for several days!). Hooker is rather progressive within his method of this new drums, with the the second twice-neck guitars (which have been quite the latest novelty on their addition in the late ’50s) and you will including consequences and stompboxes (particularly the fuzz and you will wah-wah pedals) to give his guitar to relax and play another type of, flexible, and even vocal-including top quality. Hooker is a significant impact on many other musicians, including Pal Man, Ike Turner, and maybe actually Jimi Hendrix!