John Lee Hooker was a seminal figure in the development of modern blues, known for his raw hypnotic guitar style and deeply emotive vocal delivery that bridged the gap between Delta blues and electric urban blues that were starting to become en vogue by the end of the century. His distinctive approach to guitar– marked by a heavy, rhythmic stomp, irregular song structures, and droning boogie riffs—broke from traditional 12-bar forms and laid the groundwork for blues-rock later in the century. Hooker’s playing influenced generations of guitarists, from blues legends like B.B. King and Buddy Guy to rock icons such as Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. On House of the Blues you can hear this influence clearly. Hell if you close your eyes during “Walkin’ The Boogie” you might swear you’re listening to an early Jimi Hendrix demo.
Standout Songs: “Walkin’ The Boogie”, “Ramblin’ By Myself”, “Sugar Mama”
