John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band

Artist Information

Biography

As the title of his critically acclaimed Atlantic Record CD suggests, Grammy Award and Handy Award Nominee, John Primer is truly "The Real Deal". At eight years old, John borrowed his first guitar and started to strum. With the sounds of Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Howlin Wolf, Freddie, Albert and B.B. King, reverberating through his Grandmother Laura Nell's tube radio, John was instantly hooked. He was fascinated with Blues music and set forth a life long mission of becoming a musical force. As a sharecroppers grandson, he saw a way out of working in the hot Mississippi fields. He felt a calling deep down in his soul. Early inspiration came from field songs, spirituals and his families baptist church. John started singing in the church, and playing at fish fry's and house parties around his hometown of Camden, Mississippi. At the age of eighteen, feeling restless and in search of further audiences and experiences, John answered the calling in his soul and followed the path of his mentors and migrated to Chicago in the fall of 1963. He quickly found work in the era when modern Electric Blues and the Chicago West and South Side sounds were first taking shape. Forming his first band The Maintainers in 1964, John and his old Harmony guitar rocked such West Side clubs as The Place, The Bow Tie, and Lover's Lounge. By 1968 John had left The Maintainers when the opportunity arouse to front the Soul and R&B group The Brotherhood. Jamming late into the night and practicing by day, John was forming his own unique style and expanding his repertoire. John's success would lead him in 1974 to replace John Watkins in the house band at the world famous Theresa's Lounge on the South Side of Chicago. Over the course of the next five years. John would play with Blues originators such as Sammy Lawhorn, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Smokey Smothers, Lonnie Brooks and a host of other innovators sculpting the sound of the Chicago Blues scene.
It was during this part in John's career that quite a few people were taking notice of this outstanding performer. In 1979, master songwriter and bassist Willie Dixon persuaded him to join his band, The Chicago All Stars. Traveling through the U.S., South America and Europe, John developed his skills as a rhythm guitarist, a lead slide player, and a powerful singer. Another Blues master who believed in John was none other than the "Hoochie Coochie Man" himself, Muddy Waters. Muddy recruited John not only as a guitarist, but also as an opening act and band leader. As he did with so many other great musicians, Muddy served as a father to John, instilling in him an unrelenting passion for the music that gave birth to Rock and Roll. John stayed loyal to Muddy until his untimely death in 1983.
Fresh off the heels of his success with the Muddy Waters Band, John signed on with the legendary Magic Slim. For the next fourteen years, he toured with Magic Slim & The Teardrops, bringing tight, house rocking, Blues to every corner of the planet. But John's days as a sideman were numbered, and in 1995 the veteran Blues man released his major label debut "The Real Deal". He has since toured extensively in support of his 10 solo albums to date. With John Primer's strong traditionalist Blues phrasing and songwriter, his catalog of songs is endless and his sound is unforgettable. John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band continue to electrify audiences at clubs and festivals, and remain a driving force in the world of Blues music today.

Instrumentation

John Primer - Guitar/Vocals
Mike Morrison - Bass/Vocals
Vernon Rodgers - Drums
Matais Beltran - Harmonica
Dave Ross - Hammond Organ/Piano

Discography

JOHN PRIMER - ALL ORIGINAL: Blues House Productions 2008
LIVE AT B.L.U.E.S. (DVD) 2005 JOHN PRIMER & THE REAL DEAL BLUES BAND
BLUE STEEL: Wolf Records. 2003
KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR: Telarc Records. 1999
VOL. 53 IT'S A BLUES LIFE: Wolf Records. 1999
KEEP ON LOVIN' THE BLUES: Code Blue/Atlantic Records. 1996
COLD BLOODED BLUES MAN: Wolf Records.
THE REAL DEAL: Code Blue/Atlantic Records. 1995
BLUES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: Wolf Records. 1993
STUFF YOU GOTTA WATCH: Earwig Music Company, Inc. 1991
POOR MAN BLUES: Wolf Records. Recorded on April 18, 1991
JOHN PRIMER & THE TEARDROPS, EASY BABY: Wolf Records. 1980

Official Website

http://www.johnprimerblues.com

Links

• John Primer's Production Company Website
• John Primer's Official Website

Audio

• Sugar Sweet - Live
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• Time is Tight - Live
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• A Woman Was Made to Be Loved
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• Let the Good Times Roll
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• Same Old Blues
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• I worry
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  5.0 out of 5 stars The real deal!, November 26, 2000 By A Customer The first blues band i ever sa...5.0 out of 5 stars The real deal!, November 26, 2000
  By A Customer
  The first blues band i ever saw live was Magic Slim and the Teardrops. John Primer was the rhythm guitarist with Slim at that time but i didn't even know who he was. My buddy and I were blown away by John's playing and thought he WAS the main attraction. He plays fast but never uses a wrong note and he's soulful and funky and bluesy all at once. This disc is GREAT if you haven't heard John yet. From boogies to shuffles to funk to slowburners it has it all!! I would definitely add this to my "must have" list. John Primer sat down with me and my buddy that night for a chat and shook our hands as he left. Imagine my reaction seeing him on his own CD covers now! This guy truly deserves all the critical acclaim...the real deal for sure!

• John Primer Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  # Chetan says: On Sunday 11/27/05 2:01 PM Haven't been to Chicago. But I heard John Primer just t...# Chetan says:
  On Sunday 11/27/05 2:01 PM
  Haven't been to Chicago. But I heard John Primer just the other day - in New Delhi. Anybody who can must go and see him. Don't think there are too many of his tribe left... reminds you of the true blue legends. And Chicago seems to be the place to catch a performance. Although, wish there had been some acoustic stuff, you know the Robert Johnson or Hooker type.
  
  
  # Iain Mcleod says:
  On Sunday 2/22/04 5:26 PM
  Just happened to be in Chicago for my first ever time for a few days and fancied to try out a genuine/decent blues bar (being from Scotland, it was a fairly new experience). Was recommended 'Blue chicago', so got a seat by the bar, opened a drinks tab and fortunately this guy and his mates were playing. The music was just fantastic! Had one more night so just had to do all over again but didn't leave until the music was all over this time...I don't really know how he compares with other blues bands but he sounds real for me.
  
  
  # BIG NICK says:
  On Monday 2/9/04 6:28 AM
  SAW JOHN PRIMER AT THE KEY PALACE THEATRE IN REDKEY,IN. 2-7-04 & THE BAND TORE THE HOUSE DOWN! HE'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE LEGEND HE'S BECOMING, AND THE WHITE BOY ONNA' HARP FROM MICHIGAN CITY, IN. IS GONNA' BE LOOKED AT ON HIS OWN BEFORE TOO LONG. DON'T WASTE ANY TIME. IF YA' AIN'T SEEN HIM IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, DO IT SOON!
  
  
  # william says:
  On Saturday 12/27/03 7:10 PM
  JOHN PRIMER IS UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!!!! He is truly the one person in blues today that is keeping it alive for the next generation. He is an amazing guitar player. One of the best I have ever seen. His slide guitar is the best I have ever seen. His voice is truly of the old school blues/R&B. If you haven't seen this man play the blues....GET OUT THERE AND CHECK IT OUT. YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE IT! HE IS AMAZING!!!! THE BEST BLUES I HAVE EVER SEEN.
  
  
  # Chris says:
  On Friday 6/6/03 8:21 AM
  I saw John Primer last friday & saturday at Blue Chicago - just amazing. He was performing with Grana Louise => Next possibility I'll see him again !!!!!
  
  
  # Rob Koning says:
  On Sunday 4/20/03 6:28 AM
  If you haven't seen John Primer on Stage: try to catch him live, because he is worth it!!!!!!!!!! I have seen him several times when he was in Holland with Magic Slim & the Teardrops. I was impressed!!!!! Fantastic guitar player, great voice, a real blues performer.

• Primer Quote [+ Show ]
  

  "Primer is a modern day traditional electric Chicago blues master. He has played with the best of th..."Primer is a modern day traditional electric Chicago blues master. He has played with the best of them and now he is one of them."

Setlist

I'm Worried (Elmore James)
Walking Blues (Robert Johnson)
You Belong To Me (Magic Sam)
Steal My Kisses (Ben Harper)
Fine Little Mama (Elmore James)
C.O.D. (John Mayall)
I Held My Baby Last Night (Elmore James)
Somebody Have Mercy (L.C. Cook)
Got My Mojo Working (Big Mama Thorton).
Red House
Sweet Home Chicago
Thrill is Gone
Hard To Handle
Howlin at the Moon
Mustang Sally
Operator Blues
Red Rooster
Corinna
Sad, Sad Day (Muddy Waters)
Mojo Hand (John Primer)
Cairo (James "Son" Thomas)
I'm Worried (Elmore James)

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