Who was John Lee Hooker?
A. John Lee Hooker, the veteran bluesman who died on 22 June, was one of the last remaining links with the origins of blues music. Estimates of Hooker’s age vary between 80 and 85, but whatever his exact age, John Lee was a living connection with the tradition of delta blues- deep dark tales of betrayal and loss that are the bedrock of modern American music. Q. There seem to be plenty of musical legends, what’s so special about John Lee Hooker? A. John Lee pioneered a specific form of blues- his special brand of ‘boogie’ characterised by the droning one-note songs he cranked out, always underpinned by the constant thump of his trade-mark snakeskin boots. His songs could go on for ages, weaving a hypnotic manta-like spell with his eerie deep moaning voice. John Lee Hooker s influence reaches a wide audience in a variety of musical styles. His blues influence is writ large, British blues legends such as The Yardbirds and The Animals idolised him, both bands recorded Hooker’s seminal hit
