Chicago Blues guitarist Mighty Joe Young (Delmark Records) was born on this day in 1927 in Shreveport, LA. Mighty Joe Young began his career in Milwaukee, where he grew up. Young earned a reputation as a reliable guitarist on Chicago`s west side in the 50s, playing with Little Joe and His Heartbreakers before joining Billy Boy Arnold. Young recorded with Arnold on the Testament and Prestige labels in the early 60s. He also recorded with Jimmy Reed in 1958. Joe worked as 2nd guitarist in Otis Rush?s band from 1960-1963 and recorded a handful of fine singles throughout the 60s. In 1971, Delmark released Youngs first album Blues With A Touch of Soul, and two albums came out on Ovation in `74 and `76. In 1986, Joe began work on a self-financed album in order to have complete artistic control. While working on the project, Young underwent surgery for a pinched nerve in his neck. Complictions from surgery affected Young`s ability to play guitar. As part of his physical therapy, Joe continued to work on the album, finally releasing Mighty Man in 1997. Health problems continued to plague Young and he died in 1999. Check out Mighty Joe Young on Ovation, and Mighty Man on Blind Pig. There is also a good compilation CD on Blind Pig, The Mighty Joe Young Collection. Mighty Joe Young (September 23, 1927 – March 27, 1999[2]) was an American Chicago blues guitarist.[1] Born Joseph Young in Shreveport, Louisiana, he died in Chicago, Illinois.[2] Though born in Louisiana, Young was raised in Milwaukee. He first began playing in the early 1950s by singing in Milwaukee nightclubs. By the mid-1950s, Young had recorded his first song for Jiffy Records in Louisiana. Before Young became known for his contributions to blues, he was training to become a boxer. Young worked as a sidemen in Chicago starting the 1950s.[3] He worked with Otis Rush and his band in the 1960s, and played on Magic Sams albums, West Side Soul and Black Magic.[3] His album Blues with a Touch of Soul came out on Delmark Records in 1971.[3] Young also worked with Billy Boy Arnold, Jimmy Rogers, and Willie Dixon.[3] Youngs song, Turning Point, appeared in the Michael Mann feature film, Thief (1981). Young died in March 1999 at the age of 71 as a result of complications of surgery.[2]
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:32:51 +0000
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