John Mooney (musician)
Encyclopedia
John Mooney is an American
blues
guitarist
and singer based in New Orleans, Louisiana
. He has developed a unique music style by combining Delta blues
, with the funky second line beat of New Orleans. As a guitarist, he is especially known for his slide guitar work.
, United States
, and he left home when he was 15. The following year, he met Son House
, a Mississippi bluesman who became a huge musical influence on him.
, The Meters
, Snooks Eaglin
and Professor Longhair
.
He released his first album Comin' Your Way on Blind Pig Records
in 1979. In 1981, he formed his own band Bluesiana with whom he has been recording and touring since. He has released albums from several different labels including Against the Wall on nationally distributed House of Blues label in the U.S., and also others from German labels CrossCut and Ruf
. In 2000, he returned to Blind Pig to release Gone to Hell which featured Dr. John
as a special guest. All I Want followed two years later on the label.
His latest release Big Ol' Fiya was nominated for Blues Music Awards' "Contemporary Blues Album of the Year" in 2006.
, and was once ranked third in the nation in Yu-Gi-Oh.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer based in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He has developed a unique music style by combining Delta blues
Delta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
, with the funky second line beat of New Orleans. As a guitarist, he is especially known for his slide guitar work.
Early life
John Mooney was born and raised in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and he left home when he was 15. The following year, he met Son House
Son House
Eddie James "Son" House, Jr. was an American blues singer and guitarist. House pioneered an innovative style featuring strong, repetitive rhythms, often played with the aid of slide guitar, and his singing often incorporated elements of southern gospel and spiritual music...
, a Mississippi bluesman who became a huge musical influence on him.
Musical career
In 1976, Mooney moved to New Orleans, and soon he was playing with host of musicians in the New Orleans R&B circuit including Earl KingEarl King
This article is about the musical artist. For the Earl King convicted of murdering a ship's officer, see Earl King, Ernest Ramsay, and Frank Conner...
, The Meters
The Meters
The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
, Snooks Eaglin
Snooks Eaglin
Snooks Eaglin, born Fird Eaglin, Jr. , was a New Orleans-based guitarist and singer. He was also referred to as Blind Snooks Eaglin in his early years....
and Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist...
.
He released his first album Comin' Your Way on Blind Pig Records
Blind Pig Records
Blind Pig Records is an American blues record label.Blind Pig was formed in 1977 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by Jerry Del Giudice, owner of the Blind Pig Cafe, and his friend Edward Chmelewski. The label is now based in San Francisco...
in 1979. In 1981, he formed his own band Bluesiana with whom he has been recording and touring since. He has released albums from several different labels including Against the Wall on nationally distributed House of Blues label in the U.S., and also others from German labels CrossCut and Ruf
Ruf Records
The motto of the blues label is "Where Blues Crosses Over". The company's office is located in Lindewerra, Germany. As of 2008 Ruf has produced 120 releases, sold over 1 million albums, received two Grammy nominations and ten Blues Music Award nominations....
. In 2000, he returned to Blind Pig to release Gone to Hell which featured Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
as a special guest. All I Want followed two years later on the label.
His latest release Big Ol' Fiya was nominated for Blues Music Awards' "Contemporary Blues Album of the Year" in 2006.
Family life
John Mooney has three children, Zachea, Sienna, and Devon Mooney. His eldest son, Zack, is studying biology at the Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, and was once ranked third in the nation in Yu-Gi-Oh.
Discography
- 1979 Comin' Your Way (Blind Pig)
- 1980 Late Last Night (Bullseye Blues)
- 1984 Telephone Blues (Powerhouse)
- 1991 Telephone King (Powerhouse)
- 1992 Testimony (Domino)
- 1993 Sideways In Paradise (with Jimmy ThackeryJimmy ThackeryJimmy Thackery is an American blues singer and guitarist.-Career:Thackery spent fourteen years as part of The Nighthawks, the Washington, D.C. based blues and roots rock ensemble...
) (Blind Pig) - 1995 Travelin' On (CrossCut)
- 1996 Against the Wall (House Of Blues)
- 1995 Dealing with the Devil (Ruf)
- 2000 Gone to Hell (Blind Pig)
- 2002 All I Want (Blind Pig)
- 2006 Big Ol' Fiya (Live Music Lives)
External links
- Official Website JohnMooneyLive.com
- Intrepid Artists website on John Mooney intrepidartists.com