Joe "Guitar" Hughes

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For the American rugby league player Joe Hughes see Joe Hughes (rugby league).

Joe "Guitar" Hughes (September 29, 1937 – May 20, 2003[1]) was a blues musician, from Houston, Texas. An inventive and versatile performer, Hughes was equally happy with slow blues, Texas shuffles and old R&B hits.[2]

Contents

[edit] Career

Hughes was sold on the blues by local heroes like Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Johnny "Guitar" Watson - "anyone who had fire in their playing and a good shuffle".[2] His first band was the Dukes Of Rhythm in the 1950s, which also included his friend, Johnny Copeland.[3]

In the 1960s he worked for Little Richard's old group the Upsetters, and next as a member of Bobby "Blue" Bland's band in the 1960s.[2] Like Jonny Copeland he could not see much of a future for the blues in Houston, but unlike him Hughes stayed there.[2]

A long dry spell followed, but Hughes finally came back to the spotlight with a fine set for Black Top Records in 1989 with If You Want to See These Blues (by that time, he had inserted a "Guitar" as his middle name, much like his old pal Watson).[3]

From the early 1980s he toured Europe and recorded for Double Trouble Records of Holland. They issued Texas Guitar Master in 1986, which included a live "Battle of the Guitars" with fellow Texan bluesman Pete Mayes, that testified to the abiding influence on both men by T-Bone Walker.[2]

After half a century of playing the blues, Joe "Guitar" Hughes died on 20 May 2003 after suffering a heart attack.[3]

[edit] Selected discography

  • 1988 - Craftsman (Double Trouble)
  • 1989 - If You Want To See These Blues (Black Top)
  • 1995 - Down & Depressed (The Network)
  • 1996 - Live At Vrendenburg (Double Trouble)
  • 1996 - Texas Guitar Slinger (Bullseye Blues)
  • 2001 - Stuff Like That (Blues Express)

[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030526/ai_n12685293 Obituary: Joe "Guitar" Hughes; Independent, The (London), May 26, 2003 by Paul Wadey - accessed January 2008]
  2. ^ a b c d e Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited, p. 119. ISBN 1-85868-255-X. 
  3. ^ a b c All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008
  4. ^ All Music Guide discography

[edit] External links