John Primer recalls hearing the music of Muddy Waters as a youngster where he played a one-string instrument before moving to Chicago in 1963 and acquiring a guitar.

Primer was born on March 3, 1946 in Camden, Mississippi. Initially, he played in Jimmy Reed’s style and began to take music more seriously around 1973 as he began to played the famed Chicago Club, Theresa’s (1974-80). He usually there with Sammy Lawhorn, who gave Primer many tips on playing blues guitar.

In the early 1980’s he was a member of the Muddy Waters band, and after Waters’ death he replaced Alabama Junior Pettis as second guitar in Magic Slim’s band the Teardrops. Slim allows his accompanist some of the spotlight, where he is highly rated for his pure blues playing (especially slide guitar) and singing.

Primer has recorded for Wolf, an Austrian label, before debuting this debut Telarc Blues label.

Primer is a worthy standard-bearer of the old Chicago blues traditions. Look for his latest recording, Knocking at Your Door, to be released in March 2000.