Johnnie Bassett

Born in Marianna, Florida, Johnnie Bassett recalls early encounters with blues artists Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Big Bill Broonzy during weekend events at his grandmother's home. The Bassett family relocated to Detroit, Michigan, where Johnnie would begin his career as a member of Joe Weaver & The Blue Notes - working as studio musicians for Fortune Records. After serving two years in the Army, he moved to Seattle, performing with Johnnie "Guitar" Watson, Tina Turner, and providing advice and encouragement to an aspiring young guitarist named Jimmy James, later to be known as Jimi Hendrix. In 1965, Johnnie returned to Detroit to raise a family, working on weekends as a sideman with notable local artists, including Chicago Pete, Clarence Price and Ben Baber. Since its inception in 1992, Johnnie Bassett & The Blues Insurgents have recorded four albums and toured throughout Europe and North America, performing at The Blues Estafette, The Chicago Blues Festival and The San Francisco Jazz and Blues Festival.