PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY ARLEN ROTH THIS IS A MASTERPIECE CAPTURING THE LATE GREAT JUNIOR WELLS. THIS BIT OF HISTORY SHOWS JUNIOR AT HIS BEST. ARLEN ROTH ALSO PLAYED GUITAR ON THIS.
Junior showed me it was ok to do the stompin and finger snapping and just anything that comes to mind. It's easy to learn something then accidentally sound like a robot. This and folks like Buddy Guy made me feel okay about expressing myself the way I want....because I got a big goofy looking face that gets goofier the more I play so this was key haha
Because of Listening to my Dad's Junior Wells' albums, I picked up the harp about 3 years ago. It's changed my life and given me so much soul. Junior was incredible
Amos Wells Blakemore Jr - a.k.a. Junior Wells - was born in Memphis, Tennessee on December 9, 1934. Known to Blues fans as the "Godfather of the Blues", he was a gifted musician, one of the primary Blues harmonica players in Chicago after World War II, as well as and an animated vocalist. Not only was he known for his performances and recordings with Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy, but he also performed and, or recorded with the likes of Earl Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison. Influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson II and, especially, Walter Jacobs, a.k.a. Little Walter, Wells helped to define the sound of the harmonica in the 1950s. Initially taught by his cousin, Junior Parker (also the writer of the classic "Mystery Train", later a major hit for Elvis Presley), by the age of seven young Amos played the harmonica with surprising skill. He moved to Chicago in 1948 with his mother after his parents divorced and began sitting in with local musicians at house parties and clubs. In 1950, still a teenager, he passed an impromptu audition for guitarists Louis and David Myers, and the Deuces were born. When drummer Fred Below came aboard, they changed their name to the Aces. In the wake of scoring a huge hit with his solo effort "Juke" Little Walter quit the great Muddy Waters band in 1952. Without hesitation Wells quickly jumped ship and joined Muddy’s outfit. That didn't however stop the remaining Aces - who in turned joined forces with Little Walter - from backing Junior on his debut sessions for the States Records label, producing some seminal Chicago Blues cuts, including Junior’s original recording of "Hoodoo Man", a boisterous "Cut That Out", and the blazing instrumentals "Eagle Rock" and "Junior's Wail". More fireworks ensued the next year during a second session for States with a mournful "So All Alone". Muddy Waters himself contributed guitar on four tracks during this recording session. Already Wells was exhibiting his rebellious side; he was allegedly AWOL from the Army while in cutting these sides in the studio.
I love the calm and laid back sound that is his voice... i never thought I would ever be able to just sit and listen to a real man of the blues, and learn stuff, what a privilege.. Love to travel down south, and hang out on the front porch,listening to 'real' people play real music....
Dude wasn't cut out to teach. Don't hold it against him. Hang in there. 10 minutes in he starts tellin' stories of days with Muddy and Little Walter. Then about 20 in he does some numbers. Classic Junior Wells.
What has happened to Chicago? There were some great musicians that lived and thrived in that city. There was a lot of love and compassion. Junior Wells and others had the right spirit to move the city in the right direction. It's really sad what Chicago has become lately. God bless the brothers from down south that made that a great city. Great Music by great people. Who stole the soul?
The music passed down from generation to generation still exists on a much smaller level. If you want to see what it was like in Chicago decades ago with the music passed down and the traditions carried on by the new generations, go to New Orleans.
Love this guy, such a cool cat. One of the most confusing explanations of 2nd and 3rd positions ever! But, would watch him explain and play the harps till the battery dies
I played guitar with Jr. on two occasions at the old Checkerboard Lounge (43rd) in Chicago. He was very cool to me. He knew exactly what he wanted. ✨💙✨ lovely video thank you for posting!
San Francisco in the late 60's was teeming with the Blues .in 1968 Jr.Wells had his " Comin' at You " Album out ..i was big on the Blues and bought it....i was standing outside The Avalon Ballroom on Sutter St. and who did i see ??!! Jr. Wells .i started talking to him told him i got his album and loved it..he put me on his guest list + a friend and said come on down tonight ..he was 1st Billing on the marque right above us...not only did he get us in. but invited us to the dressing room ....the whole band was straight outta Chicago's South Side..he also had a female friend with him...the band was PARTYING., drinking drinking liqour outta the bottle and passing it around they offered me& my friend and we took sips......a night i'll never forget.....he tore the house down...WAY down.......
Great story man, that definitely sounds like Junior. I used to hang at his home club Theresa's and grew up seeing all of the blues greats that were still around in the late 70's and 80's. They taught me how to drink whiskey and brandy straight out of the half pint passed around too. lol My 2 favorite genres are blues and SF late 60's rock. The Airplane, Dead, QMS, etc etc. It sounds like you were around for the glory days. God bless Bill Graham and Chet Helms. Thanks for sharing that story, it brought back some really great memories
@@dijonstreak I'd have loved to see him with Bloomfield. Fathers and Son's is one of my faves. I saw Bloomfield at the Boarding House in 1980 and spoke with him for a few minutes. It was a solo acoustic show. I had a number of great trips to SF, mostly to see the dead or JGB. I saw some great thunder and lightning shows at the Chi Chi. John C was another favorite guitarist of mine. I
Junior was one of a kind. As he said in the video, he always had time for someone who was sincere. One of the first clubs that I went to was Theresa's, which was his home club. The cover was $1. To those who spent time in Chicago clubs, you'll recognize the black lone ranger at 16:38. Damn, I had forgot about him. He had toy guns and everything. He was a regular and I'd see him almost every time I went out Wow does that bring back memories.
Thank God that visual documents of great bluesmen like Junior Wells are out there. What a player,singer and showman he was. Feel very fortunate that I got to see him perform.
Love him so much. I thought I couldn't understand him because I couldn't talk "ghetto" until I saw him trying to show the band a song in the dressing room. I wasn't the only one. My fav!
Junior Wells was the best teacher. He even taught me how to walk around the world backwards just to cross the other side of the street. It took a while to learn, but I got there in the end.
I was up at Legends and ran into Junior in the john. He was standing with his head down. I asked him if he had any words of wisdom for me. He raised his head up and said, "Damn, I am so fucked up!" and staggered out. He was playing an acoustic show with Buddy that night. High as a kite. Wouldn't stop talking. But that's Junior. Sounds like he's had a little taste here. 😉I appreciate his playing more than most.
I was just introduced to the fabulous musician, and I gotta say he's AWESOME! I play the harmonica too, and I just learn a thing or to from just watching this video. I see a lot of ingredients from other blues and funk artists. I wasn't searching for this guy he just came across my feed and I'm glad I found him.😊😮
True Talent is immortal! The bearer of talent is immortal as long as the witnesses of this enlightenment are alive! Thank you Mr. Junior Wells for these emotions! Amen!
I don't play harmonica and don't understand jack of what he's saying but man I could just drink and listen to him talk all day and just keep saying" that's right...I understand...that makes sens...get outta town...No way...wow..." :)
Hey Mariano, my wrong comment was aimed up like Jones comment saying it was the least informative video but most enjoyable. I think it was highly informative and educational and enjoyable! Sorry if there was a mix-up! I'll be quiet now! Shhhhhh!
I think you've been soaking in it for a long long time and I believe every word you said. That's a lot of information and that little harmonica takes very good care of you and you take very good care of it. Good you stayed with it because it's a rough world.
There is a lot of information here, if you can decode it. One gem is that blues in D can be played with C, G and High G harmonicas. This is eye-opening for me, as I may have misidentified some songs as in G, when in fact they are in D. Why? Because my C harp sounded good with the song. Anyway, I think what Junior is really saying is you have to close your eyes and play your harp. Get the feeling inside, whatever it is.
olrailbird That's true of all instruments. The moral of the story is to not restrict yourself. If you don't have an Eb harp so you can play crossharp with Bb, grab a different one and learn how to make it work.
So in the key of D you can play a C harp in third position, based round the draw on the 4th hole, giving you the Dorian mode, often known as jazz minor, b3, natural 6, flat 7. Or you can play a G harp in cross position based round the draw on the second hole, giving you mixolydian mode, which is like a minor but with a flat 7th, but you can easily bend the 3 draw down to get a blue 3rd, and draw the 2 down to a flat 7th, plus the 1st and 4th draws go down to give a b5 , and blending these gives you a harder blues sound.
He explains in 9:36 the most important thing for blues harmonica (how to bend with tongue blocking technique, rarely explained by no one at that time ). Only with that make the video worth to watch. He also , plays acoustic with a unique groove ,and intention, also another tip very rare to fin in most of harmonica tutorials, finally he talk about mindset tequiniques wich is a key tip for this instrument where you cannot see what you are playing. So I find this video the most informative and also enjoyable instructional video ever
Thanks for the upload John Yeaples, I've been play'n harp for some time but haven't seen this vid. You can sense in it that Junior is reluctant to accept that learning the blues harmonica can come from "indirect ways" like a video and I agree but man this is really motivational. Thanks
if lee oskars were good enough for junior wells then they are good enough for me i like them and you couldnt find a better compliment the to have junior play lee oskers
Well, we've got there are three positions at least. Though I do believe that that 3rd position is more for minor keys therefore you'd play the C harp in D minor and not D actual.
The Harmonica is a very challenging instrument to play, requiring high maintenance, cleaning and adjusting the reeds, Especially if you play bending notes..
yup harp, mississippi saxophone, mouth organ are some of the common nicknames for diatonic harmonicas, the only nickname I have heard for chromatic harmonicas is 'chrome.'
