JOHN LEE HENLEY

                                                         




         

         


By randomandrare 

John Lee Henley was born in Canton, MS. on February 13, 1919. The grandson of a preacher and the son of a farmer, he learned how to play harmonica in his youth. He worked around the Canton area in the 1930's and early 40's playing with local musicians such as Buddy Cobbs. In 1943 he moved to Chicago to find work outside of music. Muddy Waters let him sit in with his band a few times and he later joined the group Big Boy Spires' Rocket Four. Henley recorded with Spires as a sideman on his 1953 recordings for Chance. He continued working throughout the 1950's playing with whomever he could. Henley recorded two sides in 1958 for J.O.B. He made more recordings for the Testament label in the mid-1960's backed by David "Honeyboy" Edwards on guitar, but they were never issued. His last documented club performance was him playing with Big Joe Williams at the Fickle Pickle in 1964. Nothing else is known about him, and no photos of him seem to exist.

John Lee Henley:Vocals & Harmonica

Robert Lockwood, Jr. & Johnny Holloway:Guitars

Moody Jones:Bass

Zona Sago:Drums

Recorded in Chicago, IL. 1958

Originally issued on J.O.B. 114 (78 RPM and possibly 45 RPM)

This recording taken from the 1991 CD "Chicago Blues Harmonicas