The harmonious collaboration of John Lee Hooker and Morris Kaplan was like any great spark from the beginning. Morris meets John at the blues fusion Flame Show Bar, Detroit, Michigan, in the late 1940s. This chance encounter with Kaplan and Hooker sparked friendship –and recording sessions. It all started with a whistle. Yes, a whistle. Kaplan would begin whistling to create melodies and harmonies. He was the whistling composer.
Delta bluesman Will Moore, stepfather, was Hooker’s introduction to music. T-Bone Walker, another blues legend, gifted him his first electric guitar, an Epiphone. Hooker said. “I still have that old Epiphone T-Bone gave me back in Detroit.”
They wasted no time and began collaborating on multiple recordings, “Wayne County Ramblin Blues” at the Flame Show Bar was the first registered under Danceland Records. Audiences were captivated, and their music is a testament to the power of creative collaboration.
The Flame Show Bar became one of “the” upscale black entertainment clubs in Detroit, hosting giants like Billie Holiday, Della Reese, Etta James, Dinah Washington, B.B. King, and Joe Turner.
John Lee Hooker started making a name with his distinctive blues guitar playing style and soulful vocals. He had gained a reputation as a powerhouse in the blues scene, known for his raw, passionate performances that left audiences spellbound.
