James Hooker (musician)

Last updated

James Hooker
Birth nameJames Hugh Brown Jr.
Born (1948-07-20) July 20, 1948 (age 75)
Winnsboro, South Carolina, United States
Genres
Occupation(s) Composer, Musician
Instrument(s)Keyboards
Years active1964–present
Website jameshookermusic.com

James Hooker (born July 20, 1948) is an American keyboard player, singer/songwriter and composer.

Contents

Biography

Early years

Hooker grew up in South Carolina. He began performing in nightclubs during his 9th grade school year. Leaving school before entering his senior year, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina to work in the house band "The Magnificent Seven", at The Merchant Seamans Club on East Bay Street. [1]

Session work

In 1968, Hooker became a member of the Hi Rhythm Section for HI Records at Royal Studios in South Memphis. While working with Eddie Floyd in early 1970, Hooker met and recorded with Jimi Hendrix (before Hooker changed his name from James Brown). [1]

Hooker moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1971, where he worked for Rick Hall as a member of the FAME Gang at FAME Studios. [2] [3] This was also when he began writing songs. [1]

The Amazing Rhythm Aces

Hooker returned to Memphis in late 1972. [4] While working on staff at Sam Phillips recording studios, Hooker was asked to be a founding member of The Amazing Rhythm Aces. [1] He was an active member of the band from 1975 to the early 1980s, and remains an inactive member today, but participated in reunion recordings and shows in the 1990s. [5]

Steve Winwood

Hooker was Steve Winwood's keyboard player, including the "Back in the High Life" tour. "Freedom Overspill" (written by Hooker, Winwood, and George Fleming) was on Winwood's Back in the High Life album and on the soundtrack to the film Big Shots . [6]

Hooker performed as part of the ARMS concert with Winwood at The Royal Albert Hall, as well as the ARMS American tour with Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman. [7] [8]

Nanci Griffith

Hooker was Nanci Griffith's band leader for 20 years. [9] [10] They composed and recorded songs such as "Gulf Coast Highway" and "Hometown Streets." [11] [12] [13]

Awards

In 1976, Hooker won a Grammy award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group as part of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, for the song "The End Is Not In Sight (The Cowboy Tune)." [14]

Personal life

In 2007, Hooker retired from touring and moved to Ireland and then to Mallorca, Spain. He lives in Ireland and Spain with his wife Jessica, where he records songs and instrumentals for visual media.

Discography

Solo albums

As a member of the Amazing Rhythm Aces

With Nanci Griffith

As composer

Also appears on

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanci Griffith</span> American singer-songwriter (1953–2021)

Nanci Caroline Griffith was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She appeared many times on the PBS music program Austin City Limits starting in 1985. In 1994 she won a Grammy Award for the album Other Voices, Other Rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Amazing Rhythm Aces</span>

The Amazing Rhythm Aces is an American country rock group, which has characterized its music as "American music" or "roots music"—a blend of rock, country, blues, R&B, folk, reggae, and Latino. The band is best known for its 1975 hit "Third Rate Romance". They have released 18 albums over 30 years. The band's music is distinguished by its eclectic scope, literate and often quirky lyrics, and distinctive vocals by lead singer and songwriter Russell Smith.

<i>Eric Claptons Rainbow Concert</i> 1973 live album by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is a live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London on 13 January 1973 and released in September that year. The concerts, two on the same evening, were organised by Pete Townshend of the Who and marked a comeback by Clapton after two years of inactivity, broken only by his performance at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971. Along with Townshend, the musicians supporting Clapton include Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Jim Capaldi. In the year following the two shows at the Rainbow, Clapton recovered from his heroin addiction and recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaney & Bonnie</span> American husband and wife music duo

Delaney & Bonnie was an American duo of singer-songwriters Delaney Bramlett and Bonnie Bramlett. In 1969 and 1970, they fronted a rock/soul ensemble, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, whose members at different times included Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock, Dave Mason, Steve Howe, Rita Coolidge, and King Curtis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Stainton</span> Musical artist

Christopher Robert Stainton is an English session musician, keyboard player, bassist and songwriter, who first gained recognition with Joe Cocker in the late 1960s. In addition to his collaboration with Cocker, Stainton is best known for his work with Eric Clapton, The Who, Andy Fairweather Low and Bryan Ferry.

<i>Other Voices, Other Rooms</i> (Nanci Griffith album) 1993 studio album by Nanci Griffith

Other Voices, Other Rooms is the tenth studio album by American singer Nanci Griffith. It was released on March 2, 1993, by Elektra Records. Her first since leaving MCA Records, it consisted entirely of cover songs, in tribute to songwriters who influenced her own songwriting. Guest artists who appear in their own compositions included Frank Christian playing guitar on "Three Flights Up", Bob Dylan playing harmonica on "Boots of Spanish Leather", and John Prine lending harmony vocals on "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness". The album was titled after the Truman Capote novel of the same name.

<i>Little Love Affairs</i> 1988 studio album by Nanci Griffith

Little Love Affairs is Nanci Griffith's sixth studio album. It peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and topped the UK fortnightly country album chart for six weeks. It was also Griffith's first appearance on the main UK albums chart, where it reached No. 78. It spawned three charting singles on the Hot Country Singles chart, with "I Knew Love", "Never Mind", and "Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool" reaching No. 37, No. 58, and No. 64 respectively. The album marks the beginning of Griffith's long association with keyboardist James Hooker, who would appear on every album until 2006.

<i>One Fair Summer Evening</i> 1988 live album by Nanci Griffith

One Fair Summer Evening was Nanci Griffith's seventh album, and her first one recorded in a live setting. It was recorded on August 19 and August 20, 1988, at Anderson Fair, a Houston, Texas club long known for featuring folk artists in an intimate setting.

<i>The London Howlin Wolf Sessions</i> 1971 studio album by Howlin Wolf

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions is an album by blues musician Howlin' Wolf released in 1971 on Chess Records, and on Rolling Stones Records in Britain. It was one of the first super session blues albums, setting a blues master among famous musicians from the second generation of rock and roll, in this case Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman. It peaked at #79 on the Billboard 200.

<i>The Complete MCA Studio Recordings</i> 2003 compilation album by Nanci Griffith

The Complete MCA Studio Recordings is a compilation album spanning the five-year period, from 1987 to 1991, that Nanci Griffith spent with MCA Records. The 46-track, two-CD album features all of the songs from the four studio albums recorded on the label during these years: Lone Star State of Mind (1987), Little Love Affairs (1988), Storms (1989) and Late Night Grande Hotel (1991), as well as three previously unreleased recordings.

<i>Winter Marquee</i> 2002 live album by Nanci Griffith

Winter Marquee is a live album by folk singer Nanci Griffith. It was her first album for Rounder Records after leaving Elektra Records. Recorded live during the Clock Without Hands tour in spring 2002, this album grew from the original wish to capture just one live song into a 14-track live CD album, Griffith's first live recording since One Fair Summer Evening (1988). On May 29, 2002, at the historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, a live performance was filmed, and released on DVD under the same name. During the recording of both the album and the DVD, Griffith was joined on stage by Emmylou Harris, Tom Russell and Andrew Hardin.

<i>Clock Without Hands</i> 2001 studio album by Nanci Griffith

Clock Without Hands is Nanci Griffith's fourteenth studio album, released in July 2001. This was her last studio album that Griffith worked with Elektra Records. It was named after Carson McCullers's final novel. The album contains a particularly personal collection of songs, including "Last Song for Mother", a tribute to her mother. Vietnam is a recurring subject in several songs, including the biographical "Pearls Eye View " for Dickey Chapelle, and "Traveling Through This Part of You" for her ex-husband, Eric Taylor, a Vietnam veteran. She also pays homage to one of her mentors John Stewart including three of his songs with Stewart playing guitar.

<i>Blue Roses from the Moons</i> 1997 studio album by Nanci Griffith

Blue Roses from the Moons was the twelfth studio album by Nanci Griffith, released in March 1997. The album was recorded from live takes in the studio, with her band The Blue Moon Orchestra and Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis and Joe B. Mauldin of The Crickets. Darius Rucker duets with Griffith on "Gulf Coast Highway". The song "Waiting for Love", written by Griffith, and commencing "Life is full of finer things / They're lost and found in the dark" was later re-recorded with symphony orchestra for the 1999 album The Dust Bowl Symphony.

<i>Flyer</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Nanci Griffith

Flyer was the eleventh studio album released by singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith. Released in 1994, it contained 15 tracks, mostly of original material. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. The album had contributions from Peter Buck, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton, Adam Duritz, the Chieftains and the Indigo Girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Hawkins (drummer)</span> American drummer (1945–2021)

Roger G. Hawkins was an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section of Alabama. Rolling Stone ranked Hawkins number 31 on its list of greatest drummers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Beckett</span> American keyboardist, session musician, record producer, and studio founder

Barry Edward Beckett was an American keyboardist, session musician, record producer, and studio founder. He is best known for his work with David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, and Roger Hawkins, his bandmates in the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, which performed with numerous notable artists on their studio albums and helped define the "Muscle Shoals sound".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Flowers</span> American songwriter

Daniel W. "Danny" Flowers is an American songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville. He is known for creating songs that became hits for other artists. His best-known song is "Tulsa Time" recorded by Don Williams which became the number one U.S. Billboard country song of 1979. It was later recorded by Eric Clapton to reach number 30 on Billboard pop charts. Flowers' other songs written for Don Williams include "Back in My Younger Days", "Señorita", and "To Be Your Man". He co-wrote "Gulf Coast Highway", recorded by Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and Nanci Griffith. Emmylou Harris' 1975 album, Pieces of the Sky derives its title from a Flowers lyric in his included song, "Before Believing". His music has roots in the blues genre. His skill as a session musician guitarist distinguishes him from most of Nashville's other songwriters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom Overspill</span> 1986 single by Steve Winwood

"Freedom Overspill" is a 1986 song by Steve Winwood that reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. It was the second single released from his fourth solo album, Back in the High Life. It was produced by Russ Titelman and Winwood. James Hooker, Winwood's touring keyboard player and a former member of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, was credited with co-writing the song with Winwood and George Fleming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Leadon discography</span>

Bernie Leadon is an American musician and songwriter. In addition to his solo album and recordings with Eagles, Hearts & Flowers, Dillard & Clark, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, he has been featured as a performer and composer on many albums by other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Lancio</span> Musical artist

Doug Lancio is a guitarist and record producer, based in Nashville, Tennessee. He has worked with a wide range of artists including John Hiatt, Nanci Griffith, Patty Griffin and Bob Dylan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "James Hooker Biography". Airplay Direct. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  2. Artimisi, Tony (2015). Rhythm Makers: The Drumming Legends of Nashville in Their Own Words (1 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   9781442240117 . Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  3. "Studio Rhythm Sections". FAME. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  4. Crane, Larry (January 1, 2010). Tape Op: The Book about Creative Music Recording, Volume 2 (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN   9780977990306 . Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  5. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (1 ed.). ISBN   9780195313734 . Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  6. "Big Shots Soundtrack". IMDB. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  7. Loder, Kurt (January 19, 1984). "Rock of Ages: Ronnie Lane Benefit Show Brings Out Clapton, Beck, Page, Stones". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  8. Schumacher, Michael (2003). Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton (1 ed.). Citadel Press. ISBN   9780806524665 . Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  9. Johns, Glyn (2014). Sound Man: A Life Recording Hits with the Rolling Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Eric Clapton, the Faces... (1 ed.). Blue Rider Press. ISBN   9780399163876 . Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  10. Greenstreet, Rosanna (March 30, 1997). "Nanci Griffith". The Guardian. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  11. ""Gulf Coast Highway" by Nanci Griffith and James Hooker". Austin Songwriter. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  12. Woodstra, Chris (2008). Contemporary Country (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN   9780879309183 . Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  13. Mayshark, Jesse Fox (April 30, 2002). "Nanci Griffith - Tennessee Theatre (Knoxville, TN)". No Depression. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  14. "Grammy Awards History for James Hooker". The Recording Academy. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  15. Lopate, Mitchell (2012). Rock 'n' Blues Stew II (1 ed.). Lulu.com. ISBN   9780557697007 . Retrieved July 8, 2017.