Big Daddy Kinsey facts for kids
Lester J. Kinsey Jr. (born March 18, 1927 – died April 3, 2001) was a talented American musician. He was famously known as Big Daddy Kinsey. He was a great Chicago blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player.
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Big Daddy Kinsey's Early Life
Lester Kinsey Jr. was born near Pleasant Grove, Mississippi. When he was young, he grew up playing gospel music. His father was a pastor in the Church of God in Christ. Because of this, his father did not like blues music.
But Lester loved music. He started playing guitar at parties in Mississippi. In 1944, he moved to Gary, Indiana. There, he worked in a steel mill. He got married and served in the military. After that, he came back to Gary and started a family.
Forming a Family Band
In the late 1950s, Lester Kinsey started a band with his own children. They called themselves Big Daddy Kinsey and His Fabulous Sons. This family band played music together for many years.
By the early 1970s, the band stopped playing. Lester then started playing the harmonica with a local group called the Soul Brothers.
The Kinsey Report
Lester's second son, Donald Kinsey, became a very good guitarist. Donald played with famous musicians like Albert King. He even joined Bob Marley and the Wailers for a while!
In 1984, Donald came back to play with his father. His brothers Ralph and Kenneth also joined them. Together, they formed a new band called The Kinsey Report. In this band, Lester "Big Daddy" Kinsey played slide guitar and harmonica.
The band became very popular. They signed with music labels like Rooster Blues and Alligator Records. People said they were "one of the hottest attractions in contemporary blues." In the early 1990s, Big Daddy Kinsey recorded his own album called I Am the Blues. Other famous musicians like Buddy Guy, James Cotton, and Pinetop Perkins played on it too.
Later Years and Legacy
Besides his music, Lester Kinsey also started a bus company. It offered trips to casinos in the southern States.
Lester Kinsey passed away in Gary in 2001. He was 74 years old. His sons have continued to perform as The Kinsey Report, keeping his musical legacy alive.
Albums by Big Daddy Kinsey
- 1985: Bad Situation
- 1990: Can't Let Go
- 1993: I Am the Blues
- 1995: Ramblin' Man
