John Primer
John Primer (born March 5, 1945, Camden, Mississippi, United States)[2] is an American Chicago blues and electric blues singer and guitarist.[1]
John Primer | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Camden Mississippi, United States | March 5, 1945
Genres | Chicago blues, soul-blues, electric blues[1] |
Occupation(s) | Singer, guitarist, songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1960s-present |
Labels | Blues House Productions |
Website | johnprimerblues |
Biography
He played guitar at Theresa's, a club in Chicago, between 1974 and 1980. He was influenced by Muddy Waters' former sideman, Sammy Lawhorn, who taught him to play slide guitar. He joined the Chicago Blues All-Stars of Willie Dixon in 1979, then the Muddy Waters's band until the latter's death in 1983. Then he joined the Teardrops of Magic Slim and began a solo career on Wolf Records.[3]
In 1995 he released, The Real Deal, with songwriting and singing techniques showing the influence of both Dixon and Slim.[3]
In 2013, Primer was the special guest on Shawn Holt & the Teardrops' debut recording, Daddy Told Me.[4] Shawn Holt being Magic Slim's son.[5]
In 2013 and 2014, Primer had a nomination for a Blues Music Award in the 'Traditional Blues Male Artist' category.[6][7]
The Muddy Waters 100 album,[8] recorded by Primer and various other artists, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016 for Best Blues Album.[9]
In 2016, Primer won a Blues Music Award as the 'Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year'.[10]
Discography
Albums
Album title | Record label | Accreditation | Year of release |
---|---|---|---|
"Stuff You Got to Watch | Earwig | John Primer | 1991 |
The Real Deal | Code Blue/Eastwest | John Primer | 1995 |
Code Blue Sampler | Code Blue | Various Artists | 1996 |
Cold Blooded Blues Man | Wolf Records | John Primer | 1997 |
Keep on Lovin’ the Blues | Code Blue | John Primer | 1997 |
Essential Chicago Blues | House of Blues | Various Artists | 1997 |
Livin’ in the House of Blues: Roadhouse Blues | House of Blues | Various Artists | 1997 |
Blues Behind Closed Doors | Wolf Records | John Primer | 1998 |
It’s a Blues Life | Wolf Records | John Primer | 1998 |
A Chicago Blues Tour | Big Chicago Records | Various Artists | 1998 |
From West Helena to Chicago: Chicago Blues Session Vol. 8 | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 1998 |
Hound Dog Taylor: A Tribute | Alligator Records | Various Artists | 1998 |
Teardrops Blues Jam: Chicago Blues Session Vol. 9 | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1998 |
The Best of Slide Guitar | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 1998 |
Easy Baby | Wolf Records | John Primer & the Teardrops | 1999 |
Earwig 20th Anniversary Collection | Earwig | Various Artists | 1999 |
Knockin’ at Your Door | Telarc | John Primer | 2000 |
Blues for a Rotten Afternoon | Telarc | Various Artists | 2000 |
Lucerne Blues Festival 2000 | Lucerne Blues Festival | Various Artists | 2000 |
Mile by Blues Mile | Lakeshore Records | Various Artists | 2000 |
Telarc’s Got More Blues | Telarc | Various Artists | 2000 |
Blues Is a Feeling | Delmark Records | Jesse Thomas with John Primer & Jodie Christian | 2001 |
Hooked on Blues: I Have to Stop | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 2001 |
All Right | Blues Special Records | John Primer | 2002 |
Blue Steel: A Tribute to Elmore James | Wolf Records | John Primer | 2003 |
Wolf Records 20th Anniversary Collection | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 2003 |
44 Blues Guitar Killers | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 2006 |
All Original | Blues House Productions | John Primer | 2008 |
Chicago Blues a Living History | Raisin’ Music | Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, Carlos Johnson, John Primer, Lurrie Bell | 2011 |
Chicago Blues a Living History: The (R)evolution Continues | Raisin’ Music | Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, Carlos Johnson, John Primer, Lurrie Bell | 2011 |
Blues on Solid Ground | Blues House Productions | John Primer | 2012 |
Knockin’ Around These Blues | Delta Groove | John Primer and Bob Corritore | 2013 |
You Can Make It If You Try | Wolf Records | John Primer & the Teardrops | 2014 |
Muddy Waters 100 | Raisin Music | Multiple Artists | 2015 |
Classic Chicago Blues: Live & Unreleased | Wolf Records | Bonnie Lee, Nick Holt, Earl Howell & John Primer | 2015 |
That Will Never Do | Wolf Records | John Primer | 2016 |
Live at Aulnay All Blues: Chicago Blues a Living History | Raisin’ Music | Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, Carlos Johnson, John Primer, Lurrie Bell | 2017 |
Ain't Nothing You Can Do! | Delta Groove | John Primer and Bob Corritore | 2017 |
The Soul of a Blues Man | Delta Groove | John Primer with The Real Deal Blues Band & special guest Billy Flynn | 2019 |
The Gypsy Woman Told Me | SWMAF Records/VizzTone | John Primer & Bob Corritore | 2020 |
Guest/sideman
Album title | Record label | Accreditation | Year of release |
---|---|---|---|
Blues Deluxe | XRT Records | Various Artists (Muddy Waters Band) | 1980 |
Feel So Good | Isabel Records | Andrew “Big Voice” Odom | 1982 |
The Blues Is Alright | Isabel Records | Little Milton | 1982 |
Million Dollar Secret | Rooster Blues | Valerie Wellington | 1984 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol. 3 | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1986 |
Take Me Back | Blind Pig Records | James Cotton Band | 1987 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol. 4 | Wolf Records | Alabama Jr. Pettis & the Teardrops | 1987 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol. 14 | Wolf Records | A.C. Reed & Golden “Big” Wheeler | 1987 |
Magic Slim Live | Plymouth House | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1989 |
Gravel Road | Blind Pig Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1989 |
John Littlejohn’s Blues Party: Chicago Blues Session Vol. 13 | Wolf Records | John Littlejohn featuring Willie Kent & Tail Dragger | 1980 |
Daddy, When Is Mama Comin’ Home | Earwig | Big Jack Johnson | 1991 |
When the Blues Hit You | Earwig | Lester Davenport | 1992 |
Tell My Story Movin’ | Earwig | Louis Myers | 1992 |
Big Boy | Wolf Records | Dana Gillespie & Joachim Palden with Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1992 |
Call Me | Wolf Records | Vance Kelly | 1994 |
Living the Blues | Gitanes/Verve | James Cotton | 1994 |
The Rising Sun Collection | Just a Memory | Big Mama Thornton | 1994 |
The Trail of Tears | Wolf Records | Eddie Vaan Shaw | 1994 |
A Tribute to Magic Sam | King Records (Japan) | Various Artists | 1994 |
Blues Fest: Modern Blues of the ‘90s | Rhino Records | Various Artists | 1995 |
Earwig 16th Anniversary Sampler | Earwig | Various Artists | 1995 |
Joyriding in the Subway | Wolf Records | Vance Kelly | 1995 |
My Little Girl | Wolf Records | Johnny Laws | 1995 |
Big Sixteen | Ace | Big Joe Louis & His Blues Kings | 1996 |
The Blues Is Nothing But Good News: Chicago Blues Sessions Vol. 20 | Wolf Records | Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang | 1996 |
Chicago Blues Harmonica | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 1996 |
The King of Chicago’s West Side Blues: Chicago Blues Sessions Vol. 21 | Wolf Records | Willie Kent & His Gents | 1996 |
911 Blues | Wolf Records | Johnny B. Moore | 1997 |
Spider in My Stew | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1998 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol. 1 | Wolf Records | Boston Blackie & Otis “Big Smokey” Smothers | 1998 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol. 4 | Wolf Records | Alabama Jr. Pettis & the Teardrops | 1998 |
I’m Good: Chicago Blues Session Vol. 7 | Wolf Records | Bonnie Lee | 1998 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol. 12 | Wolf Records | John Brim & Pinetop Perkins | 1998 |
Highway Is My Home | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1998 |
Come Back to Me Baby | Wolf Records | Little Mack Simmons | 1998 |
Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear | Wolf Records | L.V. Banks | 1998 |
Chicago Blues Session Vol. 22 | Wolf Records | Hubert Sumlin & Billy Branch | 1998 |
Teardrop | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 1998 |
Chicago Bound | Wolf Records | Jimmy Rogers & Big Moose Walker | 1998 |
Chicago’s Finest Blues Ladies | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 1998 |
Chicago’s Hottest Guitars: Chicago Blues Session Vol. 25 | Wolf Records | Phil Guy & Lurrie Bell | 1998 |
Morning Rain: Chicago Blues Session Vol. 26 | Wolf Records | Eddie Vaan Shaw | 1998 |
You Better Watch Yourself | Wolf Records | Nick Holt | 1998 |
Ramblin’ Man | House of Blues | Big Daddy Kinsey | 1999 |
This Stuff Just Kills Me | Wolf Records | Jerry “Boogie” McCain | 2000 |
Shoulder to the Wind | Tongue ‘n Groove | The Matthew Skoller Band | 2001 |
In the Pocket: A Taste of Blues Harmonica | Telarc | Various Artists | 2001 |
Killer Diller | Delmark Records | Shirley Johnson | 2002 |
Waiting for You | Gig Records | Nick Clemons Band | 2003 |
Chicago’s Best West & South Side Blues Singers Vol. 2 | Wolf Records | Various Artists | 2004 |
They Were in This House | AV Records | Larry Taylor | 2004 |
44 Blues | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 2005 |
Sassy Mama | Just a Memory | Big Mama Thornton | 2005 |
These Blue Nights | Wolf Records | Dana Gillespie | 2006 |
The Essential Magic Slim | Blind Pig Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 2007 |
Rough Dried Woman | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 2009 |
Let’s Live It Up | Delmark Records | Mississippi Heat | 2010 |
Joined at the Hip | Telarc | Pinetop Perkins & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith | 2010 |
Four Aces and a Harp | Swississippi Records | Swississippi Chris Harper | 2010 |
Let’s Live It Up | Delmark Records | Mississippi Heat with special guests John Primer & Carl Weathersby | 2010 |
The Blues Sessions | Earwig | Tim Woods | 2010 |
The Life I Love | Delmark Records | Willie Buck | 2010 |
Checkerboard Lounge: Live Chicago 1981 | Eagle Vision | Muddy Waters & Rolling Stones | 2012 |
Tin Pan Alley | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 2012 |
Magic Blues: The Blues of the Magic Man | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 2013 |
Daddy Told Me | Wolf Records | Shawn Holt & the Teardrops | 2013 |
Gotta Keep Rollin’ | Marquis/VizzTone | Rob Stone | 2014 |
Pure Magic | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 2014 |
Live on the Road | Wolf Records | Magic Slim & the Teardrops | 2015 |
Do the Hip Shake Baby | VizzTone | Bob Corritore | 2019 |
Porch Sessions | VizzTone | Tony Holiday | 2019 |
Awards & Honors[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
- 1987 -- W.C. Handy Award honoree for best traditional blues album of the year for Magic Slim & the Teardrops' Chicago Blues Sessions Vol. 3
- 1990 -- W.C. Handy Award winner for band of the year as a member of Magic Slim & the Teardrops
- 1991 -- W.C. Handy Award winner for band of the year as a member of Magic Slim & the Teardrops
- 1997 -- W.C. Handy Award nominee for traditional blues album of the year -- The Real Deal
- 1997 -- Awarded the Theresa Needham Blues Award by the Theresa Needham Blues Center for outstanding service to the blues community
- 2009 -- Grammy nominee for best traditional blues album -- Chicago Blues a Living History
- 2009 -- Blues Blast Music Awards nominee in best traditional blues album category -- Chicago Blues a Living History
- 2009 -- Blues Blast Music Awards nominee in best traditional blues album category -- All Original
- 2009 -- Blewzzy Award for best blues CD of the year -- All Original
- 2009 -- Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for male artist of the year
- 2010 -- Honored as male blues artist of the year by Living Blues magazine
- 2010 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2010 -- Guitarist on Pinetop Perkins and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith's best traditional blues Grammy-winning Joined at the Hip album
- 2010 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year -- All Original
- 2012 -- Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year -- Chicago Blues a Living History: The (R)evolution Continues
- 2012 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2012 -- Blues Music Awards honoree for traditional blues album of the year -- Chicago Blues a Living History: The (R)evolution Continues
- 2012 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for blues album of the year -- Chicago Blues a Living History: The (R)evolution Continues
- 2013 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2013 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for acoustic blues album of the year -- Blues on Solid Ground
- 2013 -- Lifetime achievement award honoree from the Mississippi Valley Blues Society
- 2013 -- Lifetime achievement award honoree from the Pennsylvania Blues Society
- 2013 -- Blues Music Awards DVD of the year honoree, Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, included John in action with Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones
- 2014 -- Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year -- Knockin' Around These Blues with Bob Corritore
- 2014 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2015 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2015 -- Grammy nominee for best blues album -- Muddy Waters 100
- 2016 -- Blues Music Awards honoree as traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2014 -- Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year -- Ain't Nothing You Can Do with Bob Corritore
- 2017 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2017 -- Inducted as a legendary blues artist into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame
- 2018 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2019 -- Blues Blast Music Awards honoree as male blues artist of the year
- 2019 -- Blues Blast Music Awards honoree for soul blues album of the year -- The Soul of a Blues Man
- 2019 -- Living Blues Awards nominee for most outstanding musician (guitar)
- 2020 -- Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year -- The Gypsy Woman Told Me with Bob Corritore
- 2020 -- Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
- 2020 -- Living Blues Awards nominee for blues artist of the year
- 2021 -- Living Blues Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
Filmography
- 2005 : Live at B.L.U.E.S (Chicago)
- 2012 : Live at the Checkerboard Lounge: Live Chicago 1981 (with Muddy Waters & the Rolling Stones)
References
- Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- Bill Dahl (March 3, 1945). "John Primer | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues – From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 157. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- "Daddy Told Me - Shawn Holt & The Teardrops | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- "Shawn Holt & the Teardrops homepage". Shawnholtandtheteardrops.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- "Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- "2014 Blues Music Awards Nominees and Winners". Blues.about.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
- "Muddy Waters 100 – John Primer | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- "2016 Blues Music Awards Winner List". Blues411.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- "John Primer | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "John Primer". Discogs. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "Chicago Blues A Living History". Discogs. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "John Primer & the Real Deal Blues Band". Discogs. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "Magic Slim & The Teardrops". Discogs. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "John Primer & The Teardrops". Discogs. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "John Primer". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "Awards Winners and Nominees". Blues Foundation. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "2009 Blues Blast Music Awards – Blues Blast Magazine". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "2014 Blues Blast Music Awards – Blues Blast Magazine". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "2019 Blues Blast Music Award Winners – Blues Blast Magazine". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "13th Annual Blues Blast Music Awards Nominees". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "John Primer Blues - Timeline & Awards". johnprimerblues.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
External links
- Official site
- John Primer Interview NAMM Oral History Program (2014)