Biography of Junior Wells

Wells started on the streets of Chicago, playing for tips as a teenager, and graduated to houseparties with The Aces, who became Little Walter's Jukes when Wells replaced him in Muddy Waters's band. Wells recorded on his own throughout the '50s and into the early '60s for a spate of smaller, Chicago-based labels, then came to national attention by teaming up with guitarist Buddy Guy in the mid '60s and recording a brilliant set of landmark recordings for collector-oriented labels like Delmark and Vanguard. Generally acknowledged as the last of the great Chicago harmonica players, Wells continues to record and perform to the present day, his skills honed to a fine edge, a perfect ambassador to the music he's represented for so long. ~ Cub Koda