L.V. Banks

L.V. Banks (October 28, 1932 – May 2, 2011)[1] was an American Chicago blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a respected club performer in Chicago for many years. He recorded two albums for Wolf Records.

L.V. Banks
Born(1932-10-28)October 28, 1932
Stringtown, Mississippi, United States
DiedMay 2, 2011(2011-05-02) (aged 78)
Chicago, Illinois
GenresChicago blues, electric blues, soul blues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1960s–2011
LabelsWolf

Life and career

Banks was born in Stringtown, Mississippi.[2][3] He taught himself to play the guitar and fronted a blues band in Greenville, Mississippi. His musical influences included B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Milton.[4] Banks moved to St. Louis, Missouri,[1] before he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After his duty was over, in the early 1960s, he relocated to Chicago, Illinois.[2] He played on Maxwell Street and later was a regular fixture for over three decades in local clubs, particularly on the South Side.[1][2] In the early 1990s, Banks acted as mentor to the then-teenaged blues musician Marty Sammon.[5]

Banks's debut album, Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear, was released in June 1998 on the Austrian label Wolf. John Primer played guitar on the album.[6] A second album, Ruby, was released by Wolf in 2000. It was his final album.[7]

He died of heart failure in the South Shore Hospital, in Chicago, in May 2011, aged 78. His son, Tre' is following his father's tradition as a Chicago-based blues musician.[1]

Discography
YearTitleRecord label
1998Let Me Be Your Teddy BearWolf Records
2000RubyWolf Records

[2][3]

See also

References
  1. Bob Corritore (May 29, 2011). "L.V. Banks RIP". Bluesman2001.blogspot.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  2. Hanson, Karen (2007). Today's Chicago Blues (1st ed.). Chicago: Lake Claremont Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-893121-19-5.
  3. "L.V. Banks > Discography > Main Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  4. Ed Kopp (April 1, 2000). "L.V. Banks: Ruby". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  5. "L.V. Banks, Bluesman: Rest in Peace". G-freethoughts.blogspot.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  6. "Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear > Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  7. "Ruby > Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
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