Theresa's Lounge (feat. John Primer)

Happy New Year, Friends, Family, Associates, Acquaintances, Comrades, Accomplices & Total Strangers,

 

As you all know by now our idea of blues is as an idiom not a dogma, so we stray pretty far from the traditional at times. That's why we like to start every year off with an artist and or piece of music that connects us back to the original spirit of the blues. And so, in that spirit we present #108 in The Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumentals Series, Theresa's Lounge, featuring the deep and powerful guitar playing of the legendary Chicago bluesman, John Primer. Born into a sharecropping family in Camden, Mississippi in the 1940's, raised on blues and field hollers, John built a diddly bow out of sticks and wire and began singing and playing the blues as a child. After his father's tragic and untimely death at only twenty two, John's mother left her children with family and headed to Chicago to hopefully build a better life for her family, promising to send for John as soon as he turned 18. Keeping that promise, John turned 18 and headed to Chicago where he immediately began playing amongst his soon to be peers at the legendary Maxwell Street Market. By the mid 70's John was playing 7 nights a week in the house band at legendary Theresa's Lounge backing the likes of; Little Milton, James Cotton, Magic Sam, Magic Slim, Junior Wells, etc. While playing at Theresa's, Willie Dixon heard John and invited him to join his Chicago Blues All-Stars. Which he did until in 1980, John's childhood dream of playing with the great Muddy Waters came true. John joined and remained in Muddy's band until his passing in 1983 eventually becoming Muddy's band leader and opening act. John appears on the famous Checkerboard Lounge gig with Muddy and The Rolling Stones. After Muddy's passing John, joined Magic Slim's band and was also the bandleader at the Checkerboard's Monday Night Blues Jam where he mentored many of the next generation of Chicago Blues musicians. By the 1990's John had begun his solo career, which he continues today. John is a Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame inductee as well as Blues Music, WC Handy, and Grammy award-winning artist. Most importantly John is an incredibly gracious and generous human being as exhibited by his willingness to participate in this series. Enjoy!

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Andrew "the kid" Guterman (Rick Estrin) on drums, and myself on bass. The track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA. Mixed by the Grammy-winning Godfather of Grunge, Jack Endino (Nirvana, Nando Reis) and masterfully mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering.