Although the actual year has been disputed and heavily debated among historians — with different sources suggesting that he could’ve been born in 1912, 1915, 1917, 1920 and even as late as 1923. But most sources seem to say that the legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker was born on this date back in 1917.
Hooker is one of my favorite bluesmen. When he’s doing boogie blues, it’s the sort of blues to drink, fight and stomp along to in a sweaty shack. His sad songs are devastatingly sad and to me are aragubly some of the most heartbreaking songs ever written. If you don’t believe me listen to “It Serves Me Right to Suffer,” “Hittin’ The Bottle Again,” “Never Getting Out of These Blues Alive” and “TB Blues.”
So I wanted to celebrate the man and his music on the 105th anniversary of his birth. Happy birthday, Mr. Hooker. Happy birthday, wherever you are!
