John Thurman Hunter Jr

b. July 13th, 1931 in Ringgold (Louisiana)

d. January 4th, 2016 in Phoenix (Arizona)

TEXAS BORDER TOWN BLUES

Double Trouble

OOH WEE PRETTY BABY

Norton

July 1961 - 1963 / 1971

Né en Louisiane, il grandit dans une ferme de l'Arkansas puis se fixe à Beaumont (Texas) où il travaille. Impressionné par B.B. King, il apprend la guitare et démarre une carrière de bluesman au début des années 50. Son premier simple sort en 1953 sur le label Duke. Quelques années plus tard, en 1957, il se fixe à El Paso (Texas) dont il devient le bluesman incontournable (il joue fréquemment dans la ville voisine de Ciudad Juarez). John enregistre irrégulièrement pour le label Yucca (sous la supervision du producteur Calvin Boles) durant les années 60 et le début des années 70 mais nombre d'entre eux restent inédits. Heureusement, cette première oeuvre est reprise dans les indispensables recueils "Texas border town blues" en 1986 et "Ooh wee pretty baby" en 1999 avec de nombreux inédits. Superbe chanteur et guitariste cinglant dans la lignée d'Albert Collins, John propose des titres magnifiques de blues texan comme "El Paso rock", "Midnight stroll", "Border town blues", "Shuffle out", "The scratch", "Grandma", "Old red", "Slash".

Born in Louisiana, he grew up on a farm in Arkansas then settled in Beaumont (Texas) where he worked. Impressed by B.B. King, he learned the guitar and started a career as a bluesman in early 1950's. His first single was released in 1953 on the Duke label. A few years later, in 1957, he settled in El Paso (Texas) where he became the essential bluesman (he plays frequently in nearby Ciudad Juarez). John records irregularly for the Yucca label (under the supervision of producer Calvin Boles) during the 60's and early 70's but many of them remain unreleased. Fortunately, this first work is compiled in the essential collections "Texas border town blues" in 1986 and "Ooh wee pretty baby" in 1999 with many unissued tracks. Superb singer and stinging guitarist in the tradition of Albert Collins, John offers magnificent Texan blues titles like "El Paso rock", "Midnight stroll", "Border town blues", "Shuffle out", "The scratch", "Grandma", "Old red", "Slash".

SMOOTH MAGIC

Boss

Double Trouble

1985

Toujours actif mais absent discographiquement pendant de longues années, John revient finalement au milieu des années 80 avec cet album enregistré chez lui à El Paso. Il reprend son vieux hit "El Paso rock" mais on remarque également "MASH", les funky "Inflation" et "Judy" sans oublier le slow-blues "Irene". Un programme très consistant qui passa malheureusement inaperçu.

Still active but absent on record for many years, John finally back to business in the mid-80's with this album recorded in his hometown El Paso. He covers his old hit "El Paso rock" but we also notice "MASH", the funky "Inflation" and "Judy" without forgetting the slow-blues "Irene". A very consistent program that unfortunately went unnoticed.

RIDE WITH ME

Spindletop

Black Magic

Alligator

August 1992

Cet album fut gravé pour le label d'Austin Spindletop, fondé par Erica Honzell, et fut ensuite réédité par Black Magic et Alligator. Produit par Jon Foose, Ed Guinn et Tary Owens, il présente Long John Hunter en excellente forme. Accompagné de superbes musiciens (Derek O'Brien, Sarah Brown, Erbie Bowser, Mark Kazanoff), il délivre de superbes morceaux de Texas Blues où brille sa guitare accrocheuse : "Ride with me", une nouvelle version du slow-blues "Irene", "Bad feet", "Dream about the devil", "West Texas homecoming" (avec T.D. Bell), "Still blue". Ce disque attira enfin l'attention sur lui et lui permit de figurer dans plusieurs tournées internationales.

This album was recorded for the Austin-based label Spindletop, founded by Erica Honzell, and was then reissued by Black Magic and Alligator. Produced by Jon Foose, Ed Guinn and Tary Owens, it features Long John Hunter in excellent shape. Accompanied by superb musicians (Derek O'Brien, Sarah Brown, Erbie Bowser, Mark Kazanoff), he delivers superb tracks of Texas Blues where his catchy guitar shines : "Ride with me", a new version of the slow-blues "Irene", "Bad feet", "Dream about the devil", "West Texas homecoming" (with T.D. Bell), "Still blue". This record finally drew attention to him and allowed him to appear in several international tours.

BORDER TOWN LEGEND

Alligator

1996

Cette séance texane fut produite par Tary Owens et Jon Foose et éditée par le label Alligator. Dans la continuation directe de "Ride with me", John propose un album un peu moins dense mais recelant tout de même de remarquables réussites comme "Ice cold", "Marfa lights", "Nasty ways", "Rooster and the hen" ou "John's funk".

This Texas session was produced by Tary Owens and Jon Foose and released by the Alligator label. In the direct continuation of "Ride with me", John delivers an album a little less dense but containing however remarkable achievements like "Ice cold", "Marfa lights", "Nasty ways", "Rooster and the hen" or "John's funk".

SWINGING FROM THE RAFTERS

Alligator

1997

Avec ses producteurs habituels, John propose ce second album pour Alligator. Toujours accompagné d'excellents sidemen (la section cuivres avec Mark Kazanoff, Gary Slechta, Martin Banks et Les Izmore), il brille au chant et à la guitare dans son style texan caractéristique. Une tracklist variée et intense de laquelle on retient en particulier "Both ends of the road", "Bugs on my window", "Take it home with you", "Trouble on the line", "I'm broke", "Walking catfish".

With his usual producers, John delivers this second album for Alligator. Always accompanied by excellent sidemen (the horn section with Mark Kazanoff, Gary Slechta, Martin Banks and Les Izmore), he shines on vocals and guitar in his characteristic Texas style. A varied and intense tracklist from which we particularly point out "Both ends of the road", "Bugs on my window", "Take it home with you", "Trouble on the line", "I'm broke", "Walking catfish".

LONE STAR SHOOTOUT

Alligator

1999

Un peu sur le modèle de "Showdown" ou de "Harp attack" qui réunissaient plusieurs grands bluesmen sur un même disque, le projet initié par Tary Owens réunit trois rois du Blues texan. Ce projet fut co-produit par Owens, Jon Foose et Bruce Iglauer pour le label de ce dernier, Alligator. Cette réunion tient toutes ses promesses : les trois artistes sont en grande forme et irradient l'ensemble de l'album de leur talent, les arrangements de cuivres sont remarquables (Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, Gary Slechta, Les Izmore, Ernest Youngblood Jr), le choix des titres astucieux et varié. John brille notamment sur "Alligators around my door", "Quit my baby" et "Two trains running" (dans lequel il partage chant et guitare avec Ervin Charles).

On the model of "Showdown" or "Harp attack" which brought together several great bluesmen on the same record, the project initiated by Tary Owens brings together three kings of Texas Blues. This project was co-produced by Owens, Jon Foose and Bruce Iglauer for the latter's label, Alligator. This meeting keeps its promises : the three artists are in great shape and splash their talent throughout the album, the horns arrangements are outstanding (Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, Gary Slechta, Les Izmore, Ernest Youngblood Jr), a clever and varied choice of titles. John particularly shines on "Alligators around my door", "Quit my baby" and "Two trains running" (in which he shares vocals and guitar with Ervin Charles).

ONE FOOT IN TEXAS

Doc Blues

2003

Sur ce disque, Long John Hunter s'associe avec son frère cadet Tom "Blues Man" Hunter, lui aussi un bluesman du Texas, excellent chanteur et guitariste. Produit par Eddie Stout sur le petit label Doc Blues, les deux hommes sont rejoints par de remarquables musiciens (Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton, Mark Kazanoff). On apprécie en particulier "One foot in Texas", "Midnight stroll", "Mrs Jones", "Ain't gonna cry no more", "In love with a stranger" et "Talkin' country" (avec l'harmonica de Gary Primich).

On this record, Long John Hunter joins forces with his younger brother Tom "Blues Man" Hunter, also a bluesman from Texas, an excellent singer and guitarist. Produced by Eddie Stout on the tiny Label Doc Blues, the two men are joined by remarkable musicians (Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton, Mark Kazanoff). We particularly appreciate "One foot in Texas", "Midnight stroll", "Mrs Jones", "Ain't gonna cry no more", "In love with a stranger" and "Talkin' country" (with Gary Primich's harmonica).

LOOKING FOR A PARTY

Blues Express

2008

Après quelques années d'absence, Long John Hunter revient sur le devant de la scène avec cet album paru sur un label californien, Blues Express. Pour l'occasion, il est produit par Dennis Walker et accompagné notamment de Jim Pugh, Richard Cousins, Alan Mirikitani et Lee Spath. John se montre toujours incisif à la guitare et au chant. Un beau programme avec "Looking for a party", "What's come over you", "Beggar man", "Apple of my eye", "Greener pastures" et "It's hard to please a woman".

After a few years of absence, Long John Hunter returns to the front of the stage with this album issued on a californian label, Blues Express. For the occasion, he is produced by Dennis Walker and accompanied in particular by Jim Pugh, Richard Cousins, Alan Mirikitani and Lee Spath. John is always incisive on guitar and vocals. A beautiful program with "Looking for a party", "What's come over you", "Beggar man", "Apple of my eye", "Greener pastures" and "It's hard to please a woman".