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John Lee Hooker

Sue Lawley's castaway is bluesman John Lee Hooker.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is one of the oldest and deepest voices in rock music - the legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker. The son of a preacher man, he was brought up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and his first guitar was made from an old inner tube tied to the barn door. By the age of 14, he had his own guitar and ran away to Memphis with two dollars in his pocket for a life touring small blues clubs.

With hits like Boom Boom, Dimples and Boogie Chillun, he has been one of the major influences on rock stars like Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Goin Down Slow by B.B. King & Bobby Bland
Book: A book with pictures (of pretty women)
Luxury: His guitar

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 16 Jun 1995 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Muddy Waters

    Got My Mojo Working

    • Trouble No More (Singles 1955-59).
    • Chess.

  • Robert Cray

    Nothing But A Woman

    • Hits On CD Volume 8 (Various Artists).
    • Mercury.

  • Howlin’ Wolf

    Howlin' For My Baby

    • Howlin' For My Baby.
    • Sun.

  • B.B. King

    You Shook Me

    Artist: John Lee Hooker

    • Blues Summit - B.B. King.
    • MCA.

  • Stevie Ray Vaughan

    Flood Down In Texas

    • Atlantic Blues Guitar - Various Artists.
    • Atlantic.

  • Derek and the Dominos

    Layla

    • Layla.
    • RSO.

  • Albert King

    Crosscut Saw

    • I Wanna Get Funky - Albert King.
    • Stax.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Bobby Bland & B.B. King

      Goin Down Slow

      • King & Bland Together For The First Time.
      • BGO Records.

  • Book Choice

    • A book with pictures (of pretty women)

  • Luxury Choice

    • His guitar

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest John Lee Hooker

Broadcasts

  • Sun 11 Jun 1995 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 16 Jun 1995 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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