L.V. Banks

L.V. Banks
Born October 28, 1932
Stringtown, Mississippi
Died May 2, 2011 (aged 78)
Chicago, Illinois
Genres Chicago blues, electric blues, soul blues
Occupation(s) Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1960s–2011
Labels Wolf

L.V. Banks (October 28, 1932 – May 2, 2011)[1] was an American Chicago blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a respected club performer in Chicago for many years, before recording two albums for Wolf Records.

Life and career

Banks was born in Stringtown, Mississippi.[2][3] He taught himself to play the guitar and fronted his own blues band in Greenville, Mississippi. His musical influences came from B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Milton.[4] Banks had moved to St. Louis, Missouri,[1] before he was drafted to the U.S. Army, and after his duty was over, in the early 1960s he relocated to Chicago, Illinois.[2] He played on Maxwell Street, and later was a regular fixture for over three decades in local clubs, particularly on the South Side.[1][2] In the early 1990s, Banks acted as mentor to the then teenaged blues musician, Marty Sammon.[5]

Banks debut album was Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear, which was released in June 1998 on the Austrian based record label, Wolf. John Primer played guitar on the album.[6] Banks' follow-up and final album release was titled Ruby (2000, Wolf).[7]

He died of heart failure in the South Shore Hospital, Chicago in May 2011, aged 78. His son, Tre', is following his father's tradition as a Chicago based blues musician.[1]

Discography

Year Title Record label
1998 Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear Wolf Records
2000 Ruby Wolf Records

[2][3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bob Corritore (May 29, 2011). "L.V. Banks RIP". Bluesman2001.blogspot.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hanson, Karen (2007). Today's Chicago Blues (1st ed.). Chicago: Lake Claremont Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-893121-19-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "L.V. Banks > Discography > Main Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ Ed Kopp (April 1, 2000). "L.V. Banks: Ruby". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  5. ↑ "L.V. Banks, Bluesman - Rest in Peace". G-freethoughts.blogspot.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear > Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Ruby > Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

External links