Earl Hooker facts for kids

Earl Hooker (born January 15, 1929) was a talented American blues guitarist. He was known for his amazing guitar skills. Earl Hooker played a special type of guitar called a slide guitar. He influenced many other musicians with his unique style.

The Life of Earl Hooker

Early Years and Learning Guitar

Earl Zebedee Hooker was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He started learning to play the guitar when he was about 10 years old. He taught himself how to play. In 1941, he went to the Lyon & Healy Music School. This helped him learn even more about music.

Playing as a Teenager

When Earl was a teenager, he played music on the streets of Chicago. Sometimes, he played with another famous musician named Bo Diddley. Earl also became good friends with Robert Nighthawk. Robert was a master of the slide guitar. This friendship led Earl to learn and play slide guitar too. He even performed with Robert Nighthawk's band outside of Chicago.

Starting His Own Band

In 1949, Earl Hooker moved to Memphis. There, he joined Ike Turner's band. They played music all over the southern United States.

Earl made his first recordings in 1952 and 1953. These were mostly on 78 rpm and 45 rpm records. He recorded for small music companies like Rockin', King, and Sun. During the 1960s, Earl spent most of his time playing in clubs in Chicago. He performed with his own band.

Recording Albums

In 1969, Earl Hooker recorded an album called Hooker 'n Steve. He made this album with an organ player named Steve “Mr. Blues” Miller. It was released by Arhoolie Records. Earl also played slide guitar on a famous song by Muddy Waters called "You Shook Me." This recording was made in 1962.

In 1970, another album was released called Sweet Black Angel. Ike Turner helped produce this album. It included many great songs. Some of these songs were "I Feel Good," "Drivin' Wheel," and "Sweet Home Chicago."

Earl Hooker's Passing

Earl Hooker passed away on April 21, 1970. He was 41 years old. He died from an illness called tuberculosis. Earl Hooker is buried in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. His life story was shared in a book published in 2001. The book was written by Sebastian Danchin and was called Earl Hooker, Blues Master.

Music Albums (Discography)

Here are some of the albums Earl Hooker released: