Lonnie Brooks’ history is full of fun names and references. He was born, for instance, in the town of Dubuisson, Louisiana and played with the great zydeco performer Clifton Chenier. Brooks twice had the great nickname “Guitar Junior” and played on Jimmy Reed’s version of the classic Big Boss Man (I’m not certain this is the version with Brooks.)Here is the beginning of the AllMusic bio:
Having forged a unique Louisiana/Chicago blues synthesis unlike anyone else’s on the competitive Windy City scene, charismatic guitarist Lonnie Brooks has long reigned as one of the town’s top bluesmen. A masterful showman, the good-natured Brooks puts on a show equal to his recordings (and that’s saying a lot, considering there are four decades of wax to choose from).
Alligator Records, with whom Brooks has a long association, also has an affectionate bio. The sense in both is that Brooks is a very likable guy. The clip above is from the Woodlands Blues Festival in Houston in 1993. Two Headed Man and Sweet Home Chicago are from blues cruises in 2008 and 2011, respectively. His son, Ronnie, is in all three clips. Here is the elder Brooks’ site.
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