Arise Sons of Giants

When we told John Lee Hooker Junior that he was to feature on the cover of Blues Matters magazine alongside Mud Morganfield, son of Muddy Waters, together with pictures of their legendary fathers, he said “Wooh. That will get people’s attention, get them to want to see what’s going on and listen to our records! Tell Mud one day we’ll hook up.”

Well, we told Mud and gave him John Lee Jr’s telephone number, so if musical history results, we have helped make it. In the meantime, the double feature in Blues Matters magazine will be on sale at the end of November 2012.

It goes without saying that John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters were two of the best known and, indeed, best Blues musicians ever, both honoured members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We have exclusively interviewed Muddy Waters’ oldest musical son, Mud Morganfield (the other being Big Bill Morganfield), and John Lee Hooker’s son, John Lee Hooker Jr, as both men make an increasing mark on the Blues.

Their appearance in our double feature will be the first time the two, based in Detroit and Chicago, have got together.

As John Lee Jr told us, “I’ve not met Mud or knew much of him before this.  I’ve met Big Bill Morganfield and performed together with him.”

Asked about John Lee Jr, Mud says, “He’s got the same story that I’ve got.”  You can read the same story of these two sons of famous fathers, about their tough upbringings in Detroit and Chicago, their musical redemption, and their recent, award-winning rise to fame, in our magazine double feature.

And, from our exclusive interview, here is a little on the artists plans. This is what they had to say.

Mud: “Next year I will be doing more shows in the US and abroad. I’ve been signed to the Intrepid Artists International agency (http://www.intrepidartists.com) and I’m looking forward to what they can do for me.  The guy there Rick told me he played my CD, Son of the Seventh Son, nineteen times before he got in touch, he loves it so much.  I’m looking forward to playing the Blues as much as I can. I’ve been contacted by a cat in California about a festival. Me, my brother Big Bill Morganfield, and drummer Kenny “Big Eyes” Smith, who played on my album and whose dad was in my dad’s band should be going.  It’s always good to represent my father.”

John Lee Jr: “I’m promoting my CD “All Hooked Up“, touring and doing interviews. I am sorting out photos for the front of Healthy Living magazine in December. I’m taking it one day at a time. I’m prayerful for TV spots and cameos and getting songs on the soundtracks of big movies. Those plans are on hold while I concentrate on the day to day. I hope this interview helps people in the UK to know about me. My management is talking with promoters and agencies in the UK.”

We look forward to seeing Mud in the UK again in November, and hopefully to seeing John Lee Jr in 2013.  In the meantime, in our November issue, together with our double feature, we will review both artists’ latest albums.

To read the feature, subscribe to our magazine. Blues Matters magazine is available in printed and electronic editions, and available around the world.

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