Junior Wells /

Junior Wells (December 9, 1934 – January 15, 1998), born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was a blues vocalist and harmonica player and recording artist based in Chicago, who was also famous for playing with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison. He was possibly born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in West Memphis, Arkansas though other sources report his birth was in West Memphis, Arkansas. Initially taught by his cousin, Junior Parker, and artist Sonny Boy Williamson, Wells learned how to play the harmonica by the age of seven with surprising skill. He moved to Chicago in 1948 with his mother after her divorce and began sitting in with local musicians at house parties and taverns. Wild and rebellious but needing an outlet for his talents, he began performing with The Aces (guitarist brothers Dave and Louis Myers and drummer Fred Below) and developed a more modern amplified harmonica style influenced by Little Walter. He made his first recordings at age 19, when he replaced Little Walter in Muddy Waters' band and appeared on one of Waters' sessions for Chess Records in 1952.