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Edited on Mon Jun-05-06 08:35 PM by Metta
Junior Parker was part of the post-WWII Memphis blues scene. In 1952, Ike Turner got him his first record date at Sun Studios with Sam Philips, the man who first recorded Howlin' Wolf, Carl Perkins, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Charlie Rich among *many* other black and white, regional artists. Elvis and many others covered his song Mystery Train which become a standard. He moved to Houston in 1953 and had several hits among them Next Time You See Me (Things Won't Be the Same), Feelin' Good, Drivin' Wheel and Sweet Home Chicago, all standards now.
There are cd reissues from different times in his career. All of them are worthwhile to one degree or another. The best of his early stuff, including the Drivin' Wheel lp, is on the cd Junior's Blues on MCA. In 2001, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. He's under recognized today though his status as an influential bluesman is guaranteed.
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