James Hooker (musician)

James Hooker
Birth name James Hooker Brown Jr.
Born (1948-07-20) July 20, 1948
Winnsboro, South Carolina
Genres Rock music
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Keyboards
Years active 1971–present
Associated acts Amazing Rhythm Aces, Nanci Griffith, Steve Winwood
Website jameshooker.net

James Hooker Brown Jr. (born July 20, 1948 in Winnsboro, South Carolina) is an American keyboard player and composer.

Biography

Early years

Hooker grew up in South Carolina. He began performing in nightclubs during his 9th grade school year. After high school, he lived in Charleston, South Carolina, and then Charlotte, North Carolina.[1]

Session work

In 1968, Hooker became a member of the Hi Rhythm Section for HI Records at Royal Studios in South Memphis. While working with Eddie Floyd in early 1970, Hooker met and recorded with Jimi Hendrix (before Hooker changed his name from James Brown).[1]

Hooker moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1971, where he worked for Rick Hall as a member of the FAME Gang at FAME Studios.[2][3] This was also when he began writing songs.[1]

Amazing Rhythm Aces

Booker returned to Memphis in late 1972.[4] While working on staff at Sam Phillips recording studios, Hooker was asked to be a founding member of The Amazing Rhythm Aces.[1] He was an active member of the band from 1972 to the early 1980s, and remains a mostly inactive member today, who has participated in reunion recordings and shows.[5]

Stevie Winwood

Hooker was Steve Winwood’s keyboard player, including the “Back in the High Life” tour. "Freedom Overspill" (written by Hooker, Winwood, and George Fleming) was on Winwood's Back in the High Life album and on the soundtrack to the film Big Shots.[6]

Hooker perforned as part of the ARMS concert with Winwood at The Royal Albert Hall, as well as the ARMS American tour with Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman.[7][8]

Nanci Griffith

Hooker was Nanci Griffith’s band leader for 20 years.[9][10] They composed and recorded songs such as "Gulf Coast Highway" and "Hometown Streets."[11][12][13]

Solo Recordings

Hooker has several self-released solo albums through the years. The music on his solo album Hanging Out With The Boys was inspired by the September 11 attacks and by stories from military veterans from the "Greatest Generation" he knew growing up.[14]

Awards

In 1976, Hooker won a Grammy award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group as part of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, for the song "The End Is Not In Sight (The Cowboy Tune)."[15]

Personal Life

In 2007, Hooker retired from touring and moved to Ireland and then to Mallorca, Spain. He lives in Ireland and Spain with his wife Jessica, and occasionally records and performs.

Discography

Solo albums

As a member of the Amazing Rhythm Aces

With Nanci Griffith

As composer

Also appears on

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "James Booker Biography". Airplay Direct. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  2. ↑ Artimisi, Tony (2015). Rhythm Makers: The Drumming Legends of Nashville in Their Own Words (1 ed.). Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Studio Rhythm Sections". FAME. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  4. ↑ Crane, Larry (January 1, 2010). Tape Op: The Book about Creative Music Recording, Volume 2 (1 ed.). Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  5. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (1 ed.). Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Big Shots Soundtrack". IMDB. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  7. ↑ Loder, Kurt (January 19, 1984). "Rock of Ages: Ronnie Lane Benefit Show Brings Out Clapton, Beck, Page, Stones". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  8. ↑ Schumacher, Michael (2003). Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton (1 ed.). Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  9. ↑ Johns, Glyn (2014). Sound Man: A Life Recording Hits with the Rolling Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Eric Clapton, the Faces... (1 ed.). Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  10. ↑ Greenstreet, Rosanna (March 30, 1997). "Nanci Griffith". The Guardian. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  11. ↑ "“Gulf Coast Highway” by Nanci Griffith and James Hooker". Austin Songwriter. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  12. ↑ Woodstra, Chris (2008). Contemporary Country (1 ed.). Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  13. ↑ Mayshark, Jesse Fox (April 30, 2002). "Nanci Griffith - Tennessee Theatre (Knoxville, TN)". No Depression. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  14. ↑ Crowley, Lisa Mei (May 30, 2011). "BigDawg Spotlight On: Grammy-Winning Singer/Songwriter James Hooker". Breitbart. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Grammy Awards History for James Hooker". The Recording Academy. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  16. ↑ Lopate, Mitchell (2012). Rock 'n' Blues Stew II (1 ed.). Retrieved July 8, 2017.
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