For other uses of the term, see hip (disambiguation).

Hip (anatomy)
Bones of the hip
Latin	coxa
Gray's	subject #92 333
MeSH	Hip

In vertebrate anatomy, hip (or "coxa"^[1] in medical terminology) refer to either an anatomical region or a joint.

The hip region is located lateral to the gluteal region (i.e. the buttock), inferior to the iliac crest, and overlying the greater trochanter of the femur, or "thigh bone".^[2] In adults, three of the bones of the pelvis have fused into the hip bone which forms part of the hip region.

The hip joint, scientifically referred to as the acetabulofemoral joint (art. coxae), is the joint between the femur and acetabulum of the pelvis and its primary function is to support the weight of the body in both static (e.g. standing) and dynamic (e.g. walking or running) postures. The hip joints are the most important part in retaining balance. The pelvic inclination angle, which is the single most important element of human body posture, is adjusted at the hips.

Anatomy[link]

Region[link]

The five or so tubercles and the lower lateral borders of the sacrum, and the ischial tuberosity ("sitting bone").^[3]

• Proximally the femur is largely covered by muscles and, as a consequence, the greater trochanter is often the only palpable bony structure. Distally on the femur some more palpable bony structures are the condyles.^[4]

Articulation[link]

Radiograph of a healthy human hip joint

The hip joint is a synovial joint formed by the articulation of the rounded head of the femur and the cup-like acetabulum of the pelvis. It forms the primary connection between the bones of the lower limb and the axial skeleton of the trunk and pelvis. Both joint surfaces are covered with a strong but lubricated layer called articular hyaline cartilage. The cuplike acetabulum forms at the union of three pelvic bones  — the ilium, pubis, and ischium.^[5] The Y-shaped growth plate that separates them, the triradiate cartilage, is fused definitively at ages 14–16.^[6] It is a special type of spheroidal or ball and socket joint where the roughly spherical femoral head is largely contained within the acetabulum and has an average radius of curvature of 2.5 cm.^[7] The acetabulum grasps almost half the femoral ball, a grip augmented by a ring-shaped fibrocartilaginous lip, the acetabular labrum, which extends the joint beyond the equator.^[5] The head of the femur is attached to the shaft by a thin neck region that is often prone to fracture in the elderly, which is mainly due to the degenerative effects of osteoporosis.

Transverse and sagittal angles of acetabular inlet plane.

The acetabulum is oriented inferiorly, laterally and anteriorly, while the femoral neck is directed superiorly, medially, and anteriorly.

Articular angles[link]

• The transverse angle of the acetabular inlet (also called Sharp's angle and is generally the angle referred to by acetabular angle without further specification)^[8] can be determined by measuring the angle between a line passing from the superior to the inferior acetabular rim and the horizontal plane; an angle which normally measures 51° at birth and 40° in adults, and which affects the acetabular lateral coverage of the femoral head and several other parameters.^[9]
• The sagittal angle of the acetabular inlet is an angle between a line passing from the anterior to the posterior acetabular rim and the sagittal plane. It measures 7° at birth and increases to 17° in adults.^[9]
• Wiberg's centre-edge angle (CE angle) is an angle between a vertical line and a line from the centre of the femoral head to the most lateral part of the acetabulum,^[10] as seen on an anteroposterior radiograph.^[11]
• The vertical-centre-anterior margin angle (VCA) is an angle formed from a vertical line (V) and a line from the centre of the femoral head (C) and the anterior (A) edge of the dense shadow of the subchondral bone slightly posterior to the anterior edge of the acetabulum, with the radiograph being taken from the false angle, that is, a lateral view rotated 25 degrees towards becoming frontal.^[11]
• The articular cartilage angle (AC angle, also called Hilgenreiner angle) is an angle formed parallel to the weight bearing dome, that is, the acetabular sourcil, and the horizontal plane,^[10] or a line connecting the corner of the triangular cartilage and the lateral acetabular rim.^[12]

Femoral neck angle[link]

The angle between the longitudinal axes of the femoral neck and shaft, called the caput-collum-diaphyseal angle or CCD angle, normally measures approximately 150° in newborn and 126° in adults (coxa norma).^{[13][dubious – discuss]} An abnormally small angle is known as coxa vara and an abnormally large angle as coxa valga. Because changes in shape of the femur naturally affects the knee, coxa valga is often combined with genu varum (bow-leggedness), while coxa vara leads to genu valgum (knock-knees). ^[14]

Changes in trabecular patterns due to altered CCD angle. Coxa valga leads to more compression trabeculae, coxa vara to more tension trabeculae.^[13]

Changes in CCD angle is the result of changes in the stress patterns applied to the hip joint. Such changes, caused for example by a dislocation, changes the trabecular patterns inside the bones. Two continuous trabecular systems emerging on auricular surface of the sacroiliac joint meander and criss-cross each other down through the hip bone, the femoral head, neck, and shaft.

• In the hip bone, one system arises on the upper part of auricular surface to converge onto the posterior surface of the greater sciatic notch, from where its trabeculae are reflected to the inferior part of the acetabulum. The other system emerges on the lower part of the auricular surface, converges at the level of the superior gluteal line, and is reflected laterally onto the upper part of the acetabulum.
• In the femur, the first system lines up with a system arising from the lateral part of the femoral shaft to stretch to the inferior portion of the femoral neck and head. The other system lines up with a system in the femur stretching from the medial part of the femoral shaft to the superior part of the femoral head.^[15]

On the lateral side of the hip joint the fascia lata is strengthened to form the iliotibial tract which functions as a tension band and reduces the bending loads on the proximal part of the femur.^[13]

Capsule[link]

Main article: Capsule of hip joint

The capsule attaches to the hip bone outside the acetabular lip which thus projects into the capsular space. On the femoral side, the distance between the head's cartilaginous rim and the capsular attachment at the base of the neck is constant, which leaves a wider extracapsular part of the neck at the back than at the front.^{[16] [17]} The strong but loose fibrous capsule of the hip joint permits the hip joint to have the second largest range of movement (second only to the shoulder) and yet support the weight of the body, arms and head.

The capsule has two sets of fibers: longitudinal and circular.

• The circular fibers form a collar around the femoral neck called the zona orbicularis.
• The longitudinal retinacular fibers travel along the neck and carry blood vessels.

Ligaments[link]

Extracapsular ligaments. Anterior (left) and posterior (right) aspects of right hip.

Intracapsular ligament. Left hip joint from within pelvis with acetabular floor removed (left); right hip joint with capsule removed, anterior aspect (right).

The hip joint is reinforced by five ligaments, of which four are extracapsular and one intracapsular.

The extracapsular ligaments are the iliofemoral, ischiofemoral, and pubofemoral ligaments attached to the bones of the pelvis (the ilium, ischium, and pubis respectively). All three strengthen the capsule and prevent an excessive range of movement in the joint. Of these, the Y-shaped and twisted iliofemoral ligament is the strongest ligament in the human body. ^[17] In the upright position, it prevents the trunk from falling backward without the need for muscular activity. In the sitting position, it becomes relaxed, thus permitting the pelvis to tilt backward into its sitting position. The iliofemoral ligament prevents excessive adduction and internal rotation of the hip. The ischiofemoral ligament prevents medial (internal) rotation while the pubofemoral ligament restricts abduction and internal rotation of the hip joint. ^[18] The zona orbicularis, which lies like a collar around the most narrow part of the femoral neck, is covered by the other ligaments which partly radiate into it. The zona orbicularis acts like a buttonhole on the femoral head and assists in maintaining the contact in the joint. ^[17]

The intracapsular ligament, the ligamentum teres, is attached to a depression in the acetabulum (the acetabular notch) and a depression on the femoral head (the fovea of the head). It is only stretched when the hip is dislocated, and may then prevent further displacement. ^[17] It is not that important as a ligament but can often be vitally important as a conduit of a small artery to the head of the femur. This arterial branch is not present in everyone but can become the only blood supply to the bone in the head of the femur when the neck of the femur is fractured or disrupted by injury in childhood.^[19]

Blood supply[link]

The hip joint is supplied with blood from the medial circumflex femoral and lateral circumflex femoral arteries, which are both usually branches of the deep artery of the thigh (profunda femoris), but there are numerous variations and one or both may also arise directly from the femoral artery. There is also a small contribution from a small artery in the ligament of the head of the femur which is a branch of the posterior division of the obturator artery, which becomes important to avoid avascular necrosis of the head of the femur when the blood supply from the medial and lateral circumflex arteries are disrupted (e.g. through fracture of the neck of the femur along their course).^[19]

The hip has two anatomically important anastomoses, the cruciate and the trochanteric anastomoses, the latter of which provides most of the blood to the head of the femur. These anastomoses exist between the femoral artery or profunda femoris and the gluteal vessels.^[20]

Muscles and movements[link]

The hip muscles act on three mutually perpendicular main axes, all of which pass through the center of the femoral head, resulting in three degrees of freedom and three pair of principal directions: Flexion and extension around a transverse axis (left-right); lateral rotation and medial rotation around a longitudinal axis (along the thigh); and abduction and adduction around a sagittal axis (forward-backward); ^[21] and a combination of these movements (i.e. circumduction, a compound movement in which the leg describes the surface of an irregular cone).^[18] It should be noted that some of the hip muscles also act on either the vertebral joints or the knee joint, that with their extensive areas of origin and/or insertion, different part of individual muscles participate in very different movements, and that the range of movement varies with the position of the hip joint. ^[22] Additionally, the inferior and superior gemelli may be termed triceps coxae together with the obturator internus, and their function simply is to assist the latter muscle.^[23]

The movements of the hip joint is thus performed by a series of muscles which are here presented in order of importance^[22] with the range of motion from the neutral zero-degree position^[21] indicated:

• Lateral or external rotation (30° with the hip extended, 50° with the hip flexed): gluteus maximus; quadratus femoris; obturator internus; dorsal fibers of gluteus medius and minimus; iliopsoas (including psoas major from the vertebral column); obturator externus; adductor magnus, longus, brevis, and minimus; piriformis; and sartorius. The iliofemoral ligament inhibits lateral rotation and extension, this is why the hip can rotate laterally to a greater degree when it is flexed.
• Medial or internal rotation (40°): anterior fibers of gluteus medius and minimus; tensor fascia latae; the part of adductor magnus inserted into the adductor tubercle; and, with the leg abducted also the pectineus.
• Extension or retroversion (20°): gluteus maximus (if put out of action, active standing from a sitting position is not possible, but standing and walking on a flat surface is); dorsal fibers of gluteus medius and minimus; adductor magnus; and piriformis. Additionally, the following thigh muscles extend the hip: semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and long head of biceps femoris. Maximal extension is inhibited by the iliofemoral ligament.
• Flexion or anteversion (140°): the hip flexors: iliopsoas (with psoas major from vertebral column); tensor fascia latae, pectineus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, and gracilis. Thigh muscles acting as hip flexors: rectus femoris and sartorius. Maximal flexion is inhibited by the thigh coming in contact with the chest.
• Abduction (50° with hip extended, 80° with hip flexed): gluteus medius; tensor fascia latae; gluteus maximus with its attachment at the fascia lata; gluteus minimus; piriformis; and obturator internus. Maximal abduction is inhibited by the neck of the femur coming into contact with the lateral pelvis. When the hips are flexed, this delays the impingement until a greater angle.
• Adduction (30° with hip extended, 20° with hip flexed): adductor magnus with adductor minimus; adductor longus, adductor brevis, gluteus maximus with its attachment at the gluteal tuberosity; gracilis (extends to the tibia); pectineus, quadratus femoris; and obturator externus. Of the thigh muscles, semitendinosus is especially involved in hip adduction. Maximal adduction is impeded by the thighs coming into contact with one another. This can be avoided by abducting the opposite leg, or having the legs alternately flexed/extended at the hip so they travel in different planes and do not intersect.

Sexual dimorphism and cultural significance[link]

Dancers often stand with hands on hips.

In humans, unlike other animals, the hip bones are substantially different in the two sexes. The hips of human females widen during puberty.^[24] The femora are also more widely spaced in females, so as to widen the opening in the hip bone and thus facilitate childbirth. Finally, the ilium and its muscle attachment are shaped so as to situate the buttocks away from the birth canal, where contraction of the buttocks could otherwise damage the baby.

The female hips have long been associated with both fertility and general expression of sexuality. Since broad hips facilitate child birth and also serve as an anatomical cue of sexual maturity, they have been seen as an attractive trait for women for thousands of years. Many of the classical poses women take when sculpted, painted or photographed, such as the Odalisque, serve to emphasize the prominence of their hips. Similarly, women's fashion through the ages has often drawn attention to the girth of the wearer's hips.

See also[link]

• Belly dancer
• Body shape
• Femoral Acetabular Impingement
• Haunch
• Hip dysplasia (human)
• Hip examination
• Hip replacement
• Obstetrical Dilemma
• Sexual dimorphism
• Snapping hip syndrome
• Waist-hip ratio

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Clemente, Carmine D. (2006). Clemente's Anatomy Dissector. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-6339-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=oEMvo2exmJgC&pg=RA2-PA227. 
• Diab, Mohammad (1999). Lexicon of Orthopaedic Etymology. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 90-5702-597-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=fstFQVnw8-wC&pg=PA200#PPA77,M1. 
• Faller, Adolf; Schuenke, Michael; Schuenke, Gabriele (2004). The Human Body: An Introduction to Structure and Function. Thieme. ISBN 3-13-129271-7. 
• Field, Derek (2001). Anatomy: palpation and surface markings (3rd ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 0-7506-4618-7. 
• "Hip Region". MediLexicon. http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=77165. 
• Palastanga, Nigel; Field, Derek; Soames, Roger (2006). Anatomy and human movement: structure and function (5th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 0-7506-8814-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=rRtPExr9Hz8C&pg=PA353. 
• Platzer, Werner (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System (5th ed.). Thieme. ISBN 3-13-533305-1. 
• Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System. Thieme. 2006. ISBN 1-58890-419-9. 

External links[link]

Look up hip in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hip

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hip joint

• Hip Preservation Awareness, information and support for hip impingement, hip dysplasia, and related issues in young adults (12-adult)
• Hip anatomy video
• High-performance hips

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Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Wyclef Jeanelle Jean
Also known as	Wyclef, Nel, Clef
Born	(1969-10-17) October 17, 1969 (age 42) Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti
Genres	Hip hop, dancehall, R&B, reggae, pop rap
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, producer, actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, drums
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Ruffhouse, Columbia, Clef Recording
Associated acts	Fugees, Akon, Lil Wayne, R. Kelly, Niia, The Rock, Mary J Blige, Doug E. Fresh, Flo Rida, Shakira
Website	wyclef.com

Wyclef Jeanelle Jean (/ˈwaɪklɪf ˈʒɑːn/; Haitian Creole pronunciation: [wajklɛf ʒã]; born October 17, 1969)^[1] is a Haitian American musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country. He first received fame as a member of the acclaimed New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees.

On August 5, 2010, Jean filed for candidacy in the 2010 Haitian presidential election,^[2] although the Electoral Commission subsequently ruled him ineligible to stand as he had not met the requirement to have been resident in Haiti for five years.^[1][3]

Early life[link]

Although his birth date was widely given as October 17, 1972, papers filed for his run as a candidate for the presidency of Haiti, disclosed that he was, in fact, born in 1969.^[1] Born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, the son of a Nazarene pastor,^[4] Wyclef moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York, when he was nine^[5] before moving again to northern New Jersey. Jean has cited reggae artist Bigga Haitian as one of his early influences, as well as neighborhood heroes MC Tiger Paw Raw and producer Lobster v. Crab.^[6] Jean graduated from Vailsburg High School in Newark, briefly attended Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts, and finished one semester at Five Towns College in New York.^[7][8] Jean has been a resident of Saddle River, South Orange, and North Caldwell, New Jersey.^[9][10] In 2009, Jean enrolled in the Berklee College of Music.^[11]

Music career[link]

Fugees era[link]

Jean's musical breakthrough was as part of The Refugee Camp (The Fugees), a three-member group that included Lauryn Hill and Prakazrel "Pras" Michel. Jean is Pras's cousin and a fellow Haitian immigrant. The Fugees signed to Ruffhouse Records, which released the group's debut album, Blunted on Reality. It sold fairly well, peaking at #49 on the U.S. Hot 100 and selling over 2 million copies worldwide. The follow-up album – The Score – sold over 18 million copies worldwide, eventually becoming a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning album.

Jean announced plans to begin a solo career with 1997's Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars (generally called The Carnival). The album's guests included Lauryn Hill and Pras along with Jean's siblings' group Melky Sedeck;^[12] the I Threes (back-up vocals for Bob Marley); The Neville Brothers and Celia Cruz. The album was a hit, as were two singles: "We Trying to Stay Alive" (adapted from The Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive") and "Gone Till November" (recorded with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra).

Solo career[link]

Released in 2000, Jean's second solo album The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book was recorded with guests including Youssou N'Dour; Earth, Wind & Fire; Kenny Rogers; The Rock; and Mary J. Blige. With Blige he released "911" as a single. He was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Act at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards.^[13][14]

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Jean participated in the benefit concert America: A Tribute to Heroes contributing a cover of the Bob Marley song "Redemption Song". Jean has produced hits and been featured in hit simgles for Destiny's Child, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige to name a few.

Jean's third album, Masquerade, was released in 2002. His fourth album, The Preacher's Son, was released in November 2003 as the follow-up to his first solo album, The Carnival.

In 2004, he released his fifth album, entitled Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haïti (Creole 101) (released in the United States by Koch Records). Most of its songs are in his native language of Haitian Creole like "Fanm Kreyol" with the French Caribbean Admiral T. He also figured on the album Mozaik Kreyol of this one in the song "Secret Lover". Then he covered Creedence Clearwater Revival's song "Fortunate Son" for the soundtrack of the 2004 film remake of The Manchurian Candidate and wrote the song "Million Voices" for the film Hotel Rwanda.

Jean also produced and wrote songs for the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme's 2003 documentary The Agronomist, about the Haitian activist and radio personality Jean Dominique. With Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis, Jean also composed the score of the documentary Ghosts of Cité Soleil,^[15] He also helped produce the film and he appears briefly onscreen speaking by telephone in 2004 to a "chimere" gang-leader and aspiring rapper, Winston "2Pac" Jean.^[16]

Wyclef Jean performing at a UNAIDS concert in 2006

During a period between 2004 and 2006 and fueled by a reunion performance in Dave Chappelle's "Block Party", it appeared that the Fugees were on track to record a new album, however Fugees member Pras claimed to Billboard, "To put it nicely, it's dead." He said the root of this animosity was the third member of the group, Lauryn Hill, and was quoted in Billboard as saying; "Me and Clef, we on the same page, but Lauryn Hill is in her zone, and I'm fed up with that shit. Here she is, blessed with a gift, with the opportunity to rock and give and she's running on some bulls**t? I'm a fan of Lauryn's but I can't respect that."^[17]

In 2006, Jean was featured in Shakira's smash hit Hips Don't Lie. The song went on to become the highest selling single of the 21st century, in addition to reaching number one in over fifty-five countries. Jean and Shakira went on to perform the song at the 2006 Grammys and the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.

Jean released an album in September 2007 that he recorded in Atlanta, Georgia, with the help of T.I., who also collaborated with Jean on the songs "You Know What it is" and "My Swag" on T.I.'s 2007 album, T.I. vs. T.I.P. Recently, Wyclef released a new song called "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" featuring Lil' Wayne, Niia and Akon, which references the song "C.R.E.A.M." by the Wu-Tang Clan. The album also features a single, "Fast Car", whose video was made with the assistance of video game Burnout Paradise. During this period, he was featured in a mix version of the Cartel song "Wasted" that was released with their self-titled album. In November 2008, an upbeat single 'Let Me Touch Your Button' featuring will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas) was released in the UK in conjunction with Wyclef's invovlement with UK MOTOROKRSTAR (which sees Motorola UK on the search to discover British talent).^[18]. Jean released a song with Serj Tankian "Riot".

In 2009, he featured in a song called "Spanish Fly" with Ludacris and Bachata group Aventura in Aventura's upcoming album "The Last" which came out in June.

On June 17, 2009, Wyclef announced via Twitter that his new album will be called wyclefjean and is to be released sometime in February 2010.^{[citation needed]} The first single off of wyclefjean is to be titled "Seventeen" and will feature Lil' Wayne.^[19]

In November 2009, a track titled "Suicide Love" featuring rapper Eve leaked online prior to the release of his EP.

Wyclef Jean's EP named From the Hut, to the Projects, to the Mansion was released on November 10, 2009. It includes 17 tracks, featuring Cyndi Lauper, Timbaland, Eve, and Lil' Kim.^[20] In this album, Wyclef uses the alias Toussaint St. Jean, his alter ego, when he raps.^[21]

Wyclef Jean's upcoming self-entitled studio album was due to be released in 2011, has still yet to be released. "Hold On," the lead single from the project, will feature Dancehall artist Mavado.^[20]

Personal life[link]

In 1994, he married Fusha designer Marie Claudinette.^[22] In 2005, they adopted their daughter, Angelina Claudinelle Jean. The couple renewed their vows in August 2009.^[23]

His uncle – political activist, journalist and diplomat Raymond Alcide Joseph – has been the Haitian ambassador to the United States since 2005, and came to prominence as a spokesman for his country after the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake. Together with Wyclef, he issued an appeal for international aid.^[24][25][26]

On March 19, 2011, Jean claimed that he was shot in the palm of his right hand in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The police reported otherwise saying that Wyclef was not wounded by a bullet but was cut by glass. Police Chief Vanel Lacroix said "we met with the doctor who saw him and he confirmed Wyclef was cut by glass."^[27][28]

Yéle Haiti[link]

In 2005, Jean established the Yéle Haiti Foundation. In its first year of operation, the foundation, with funding by Comcel, provided scholarships to 3,600 children in Gonaïves, Haiti, after the devastation by Hurricane Jeanne. In its second year of operation, it is almost doubling the amount of the scholarships and spreading them throughout Haiti, providing tuition in 5 regions. The foundation aims to provide 6,800 scholarships to children in Port-au-Prince, Gonaïves, Les Cayes, Port-de-Paix, and Cap-Haïtien.^{[citation needed]}

After the earthquake on January 12, 2010 in Haiti, Jean called on others to donate to his foundation's Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund, imploring "We must act now."^[29][30]

Jean has been active in his support of his native country and created the foundation Yéle Haiti^[31] to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to Haiti. He describes Yéle as a non-political organization intended to empower the people of Haiti and the Haitian diaspora to rebuild their nation, saying, "The objective of Yéle Haiti is to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage".^{[citation needed]}. Yéle Haiti was created in October 2004 with Wyclef's cousin Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis. Projects were launched in January 2005. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were present for the first anniversary of the launch in 2006.^[32][33]

In January 2007, Jean became a roving ambassador for Haiti, to help improve its image abroad.^[34]

May 20, 2008 – Yéle Haiti partnered with WFP (World Food Programme) of the United Nations to launch www.togetherforhaiti.org

September, 2008 – Wyclef in conjunction with Yéle Haiti Charity delivered food to Hurricane Ike victims in Haiti. Matt Damon provided assistance in the food lines serving food.

Oct 23, 2008 – Wyclef Jean performed on stage with Carlos Santana in San Francisco on behalf of Yéle Haiti, OneXOne, and WaterPartners International to raise funds for clean water, education, health, environment, and community development in the USA and in the developing world.

In 2009, Wyclef Jean and The Timberland Company joined forces to help raise environmental awareness in Haiti. This duo "will be a multi-platform effort incorporating Timberland products, digital and social media, service events, music, and concerts that will promote environmental awareness." The campaign will push to support and educate the country as well as helping to improve health care and the environment, and the community. Wyclef Jean also plans to spread information about the joint efforts through social media outlets such as "Twitter, YouTube, Myspace, Facebook, imeem, and Social Vibe."^[35] He also aims to use social networking websites to help raise money to build the Yéle Center.^[20]

In January 2010, along with his uncle Raymond Joseph, Haitian ambassador to the US, Wyclef issued an appeal for international aid following the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Today, Yele's mission, headed by CEO Derek Johnson, is to provide aid and assistance to the communities in Haiti in greatest need, where severe poverty, widespread unemployment, rampant malnutrition and crippling illiteracy are most pervasive. In doing so, we strive to balance emergency relief with support for long term sustainable initiatives that together are giving both hope and practical assistance to the people of Haiti. Yele's programs focus on emergency relief, employment, youth development and education, and tree planting and agriculture.

In a November 27, 2011 New York Post article entitled "Questions Dog Wyclef's Haiti Fund", the Post asserted that less than one third of the over $16 million raised after the Haiti earthquake in January 2010 has been spent effectively for the victims of the catastrophe. The Post does not allege any dishonest embezzlement of funds on Wyclef's part, but rather asserts that there was gross mismanagement and negligence with regards to the distribution of the funds the charity raised. Required Federal tax returns were not filed, and $1 million was given to a Florida firm that does not seem to exist. Wyclef and most of the board left the charity in the summer of 2010. It is now under new management. Wyclef stated, "It's a clean slate now." Due to the controversial nature of Jean's former charity, he has kept a relatively low profile.

Politics[link]

Although Wyclef Jean has only been active in Haitan politics, he told Womens Wear Daily in 2011 that quote "I am a huge fan of Sarah Palin" ^[36].

2010 Haitian presidential campaign[link]

Wikinews has related news: Wyclef Jean considering standing for president of Haiti

On August 5, 2010, Wyclef confirmed the rumors that he was running for office by telling CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he was running, though Blitzer had questions about Jean's actual citizenship and passport. In an article written by Exclaim! Magazine it was mentioned that Jean will be stepping down as the chairman of Yéle Haiti. On August 5, Jean formally filed papers as a candidate for the 2010 Haitian presidential election, following media speculation that he would make his announcement that evening on Larry King Live.^{[37][38][39][40]} Wyclef would have run as a candidate for the Viv Ansanm (Live Together) political party.^[41] On the topic of his candidacy, Jean has stated, "I am being drafted to serve my country."^{[citation needed]}

Besides opposition from Sean Penn in regards to Jean's Haitian presidential plans, Arcade Fire's Win Butler stated in a radio interview:

"Technically, [Wyclef Jean] shouldn't be eligible because he hasn't been a resident of Haiti. And I think him not speaking French and not being fluent in Creole would be a really major issue in trying to run a really complex government, like the government in Haiti. It would kind of be like Arnold Schwarzenegger only speaking Austrian German and being elected president of the United States after New York City and LA had burned to the ground... I think he is a great musician and he really passionately cares about Haiti. I really hope he throws his support behind someone who is really competent and really eligible."^[42]

On August 20, 2010, his bid for candidacy was rejected by Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council. He was turned down because he did not meet the residency requirement of having lived in Haiti for five years before the November 28 election.^[3][43] Afterwards, Wyclef stated:

Appearances in television and film[link]

Jean at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

• On a 2004 episode of Chappelle's Show, he appeared as the musical guest.
• He starred in Virgin Mobile commercials as himself.^[45]
• In 2005, he appeared in the film One Last Thing.... His character is a cab driver named Emmett Ducasse. It is implied he is an angel due to being in the main character's "Heaven". Wyclef also has an original track that is the closing credits first song. The song is "Heaven's in New York".
• Also in 2005, Wyclef appeared in 4 episodes of the hit NBC prime time television drama "Third Watch" as the recurring character, Marcel Hollis, a gang leader responsible for blowing up the police precinct house in the final episode of the series.
• In December 2007, starred in the four-part MTV exclusive online short-film Americlef^[46]
• May 20, 2008: At the Gansevoort Hotel, Wyclef Jean in partnership with the WFP and PADF launched "Together for Haiti" to address the hunger crisis in Haiti^[47] members of the American and international television and print media were invited to cover the news.

• October 17, 2011: The Apprentice (U.S. season 12) Episode 1: Hero Worship

Discography[link]

• 1997: The Carnival (Columbia)
• 2000: The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (Columbia)
• 2002: Masquerade (Columbia)
• 2003: Greatest Hits (Columbia)
• 2003: The Preacher's Son (J)
• 2004: Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 (Koch)
• 2006: Ghosts of Cité Soleil^[48]
• 2007: Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant (Columbia)
• 2009: From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion (Columbia)
• 2010: If I Were President: The Haitian Experience (Columbia)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wyclef Jean

• Official website
• Wyclef Jean at the Internet Movie Database
• Yéle Haiti Foundation
• Sak Pasé Records (a record label founded by Wyclef)
• Haiti: Working Together at Last by Wyclef Jean, September 23, 2010
• New York Post article on mismanagement at Yéle Haiti Foundation
• Wyclef talking about Nation19.com / APDTA

Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis in July 2009
Background information
Birth name	Hugh Anthony Cregg III
Also known as	Hughie Louis (stage name 1972-1976), Huey Louis (1977-1978), Huey Harp (1978)
Born	(1950-07-05) July 5, 1950 (age 61) New York, New York
Origin	San Francisco Bay Area
Genres	Rock, blue-eyed soul, doo-wop
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, actor
Instruments	Harmonica, vocals
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Chrysalis, EMI America, Elektra, Jive, Capitol
Associated acts	Huey Lewis and the News, Clover, Thin Lizzy, Orleans, King Harvest
Website	http://www.hueylewis.com

Huey Lewis (Hugh Anthony Cregg III, born July 5, 1950) is an American musician, songwriter, and actor.

Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band, Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs. The band is perhaps best known for their third album, Sports, and their contribution to the soundtrack of the 1985 feature film Back to the Future. Lewis previously played with the band Clover from 1972 to 1979.

Early life[link]

Huey Lewis was born in New York City. His father, Hugh Anthony Cregg II, was an Irish American from Boston and his mother, Magda, was a Polish refugee.^[1][2]

Lewis was raised in Marin County, California, attending Strawberry Point Elementary School (where he skipped second grade) and Edna Maguire Junior High School in Mill Valley. When he was 13, his parents divorced and he attended and later graduated from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, in 1967, where he achieved a perfect score of 800 on the math portion of the SAT.^[3] Lewis applied to and was accepted by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

In an interview with David Letterman,^[4] Lewis talked about hitchhiking across the country to New York and how he learned to play the harmonica while waiting for rides. He talked about hanging out at the airport for three days until he stowed away on a plane to Europe. In future interviews Lewis would reveal other encounters while traveling Europe. He claimed to sleeping rough at times. While visiting the Scottish city of Aberdeen with no money and nowhere to sleep Lewis claimed that the locals were very hospitable and would often offer him somewhere to stay. In Madrid, Spain, Lewis became an accomplished blues player and he hitchhiked around and supported himself by busking with his harmonica. He gave his first concerts in Madrid, earning enough money to buy a plane ticket back to the USA.

Upon his return Lewis entered Cornell University where he entered the engineering program. While there he made friends with Lance and Larry Hoppen who later played with Orleans and Eddie Tuleja of King Harvest. Initially an active student and a member of the fraternity Eta Lambda Nu, Lewis soon lost interest in college. He signed up with a band called Slippery Elm and in December 1969, during his junior year, he dropped out of Cornell and moved back to the San Francisco area. His aim was to continue playing music though along the way he also tried other fields of work including landscaping, carpentry, wedding and event planning and natural foods. Lewis lives on a ranch near Stevensville, Montana.^[5][6]

Music career[link]

Huey Lewis at O'Hare International Airport.

In 1971 Lewis joined the Bay Area band Clover. Around this time he took the stage name "Hughie Louis", the spelling of which he would tinker with for some years after.

Other members of the band (at various points) were John McFee, Alex Call, John Ciambotti, Mitch Howie, Sean Hopper, Mickey Shine and Marcus David. Lewis played harmonica and sang lead vocals on a few tunes. Clover's main rival band (which developed into a friendly rivalry) was Soundhole (Johnny Colla, Bryan Davis, Ben Miller, Mario Cipollina, and Bill Gibson were band members).

In 1976, after playing in the Bay Area with limited success, Clover went to Los Angeles. They had their "big break" in a club there when their act was caught by Nick Lowe who convinced Clover to travel to Britain with him. However, Clover arrived in Britain just as their folk-rock sound, known as pub rock in Britain, was being replaced by punk rock.

The two Clover albums produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange under the British Phonogram label were not successful. By this point the spelling of Cregg's stage name had changed to "Huey Louis"; it is under this spelling that he is billed on both of Clover's albums for Phonogram.

Clover—without Lewis—also backed Elvis Costello on his 1977 debut album My Aim is True.

In 1978 the band returned to California, McFee joined the Doobie Brothers, and Clover disbanded.

Under the name "Huey Harp" Huey Lewis played harmonica on Thin Lizzy's 1978 landmark album Live and Dangerous. That same year Lewis was playing at Uncle Charlie's, a club in Corte Madera, California, doing the 'Monday Night Live' spot along with future members of the News. After recording the song "Exo-Disco" (a disco version of the theme from the film Exodus) as Huey Lewis and the American Express, Huey landed a 'singles contract' from Phonogram Records and Bob Brown became his manager.

The band played a few gigs (including an opening for Van Morrison), before adding new guitarist Chris Hayes to the line-up. On Brown's advice they changed their name again to Huey Lewis and The News.

Lewis performing in 2006

After a failed self-titled debut in 1980 the band finally broke through to Top 40 success with the gold album Picture This (1982). It rose to No. 13 on the Albums chart thanks to the Mutt Lange-penned "Do You Believe in Love" (No. 7), the band's first hit.

The band's third LP, the No. 1 Sports (1983), is one of the best-selling pop releases of all time. It has sold ten million copies in the US alone.^[7] That well received album was followed by Fore! (1986), another No. 1 multi-platinum smash.

Lewis produced Nick Lowe's 1985 version of "I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll)", and later produced several songs (including one where he sang backup and played harmonica) on Bruce Hornsby & The Range's debut album, The Way It Is. Hornsby thanked him by writing the song "Jacob's Ladder", a No. 1 single from The News' next album.

Lewis and his bandmates performed on USA for Africa's 1985 fund-raising single We Are the World, and spent the remainder of the 1980s and early 1990s recording 14 Top-20 Billboard Hot 100 hits and releasing two more hit albums: Small World (1988) No. 11 and Hard at Play (1991) No. 27. Lewis also performed in the song "Once Upon a Time in New York City" for the 1988 Disney film, Oliver & Company.

By the time the band released the album of cover songs Four Chords & Several Years Ago (1994) No. 55, their chosen lower profile and lack of promotion from new label Elektra saw their Top 40 appeal dip.

Huey Lewis has sung with Umphrey's McGee at several shows beginning with the 2005 Jammys and is featured on two tracks of their album Safety In Numbers.

The band, now in self-proclaimed semi-retirement, still plays over 80 dates a year in the U.S., and an occasional European tour. The average fee for Huey Lewis and the News to play a private college-sized show is around $200,000.

Lewis performing in Nashville, TN. November 2008.

On February 13, 2007, Lewis was interviewed on the podcast series "Stuck in the 80s". During the interview he revealed that the band has written several new songs that they planned to record in 2008. He also stated that, given how much the industry has changed since their last album, he was unsure how they would sell the new material.^[8]

During a show at the California State Fair on August 21, 2007 Lewis was named Sacramento's "Musician of the Year" by the fair's General Manager and presented with a gold statue of the California state bear.

Lewis recorded a duet version of "Workin' for a Livin'" with Garth Brooks, which was included on Brooks' 3-disc set The Ultimate Hits, in late 2007.

On July 4, 2008, the eve of his 58th birthday, Huey Lewis and the News were the opening act for the annual A Capitol Fourth celebration on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. More than a half million people attended, and was broadcast live on PBS. The band performed "The Heart of Rock & Roll", "The Power of Love" and "Workin' for a Livin'".

On May 29, 2011, Huey Lewis played the annual Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Illinois, along with Chicago-based progressive jam band Umphrey's Mcgee. They were billed as Huey Lewis and The Rumors. Together they played covers as well as songs from both their respective catalogs.^[9]

Ghostbusters lawsuit[link]

In 1985, Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker, Jr. over similarities between Parker's theme for the 1984 movie Ghostbusters and Lewis's "I Want a New Drug". The case was settled out of court with both parties agreeing to keep the settlement secret. In 2001, Parker sued Lewis, alleging that in a "VH1 – Behind the Music" Episode, Lewis had discussed the settlement in violation of their nondisclosure agreement.^[10]

Recordings[link]

See Huey Lewis and the News discography for albums and singles by the band. Below are specific contributions by Huey Lewis as a solo artist.

Albums[link]

• Oliver & Company Soundtrack (1988)
• Come Together: America Salutes The Beatles (1995)
• Duets Soundtrack (2000) #102 US (#16 Billboard Top Soundtracks)

Singles[link]

The following table denotes singles that Lewis has charted with solo credits.

Filmography[link]

In the acting world, Lewis' debut was a cameo in the 1985 film Back to the Future—which featured several Huey Lewis and the News songs in the soundtrack. His character is one of the teachers auditioning acts for the high school talent show early in the film.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Huey Lewis at the Internet Movie Database
• Huey Lewis at the Internet Broadway Database
• Lewis, Huey (2010-11-05) (Video & transcript). (Interview). The Tavis Smiley Show. KCET. Los Angeles. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/archive/201011/20101105_lewis.html#video. Retrieved 2011-01-12. 

v t e Huey Lewis and the News Huey Lewis Johnny Colla Bill Gibson Sean Hopper John Pierce Stef Burns Marvin McFadden Rob Sudduth Chris Hayes Mario Cipollina Ron Stallings Studio albums Huey Lewis and the News Picture This Sports Fore! Small World Hard at Play Four Chords & Several Years Ago Plan B Soulsville Live albums Live at 25 Compilations The Heart of Rock & Roll – The Best of Huey Lewis and The News Time Flies... The Best Of Greatest Hits & Videos Singles "Do You Believe in Love" "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do" "Workin' for a Livin'" "Heart and Soul" "I Want a New Drug" "The Heart of Rock & Roll" "If This Is It" "Walking on a Thin Line" "The Power of Love" "Back in Time" "Stuck with You" "Hip to Be Square" "Jacob's Ladder" "I Know What I Like" "Doing It All for My Baby" "Perfect World" "Give Me the Keys (And I'll Drive You Crazy)" "Couple Days Off" "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" "(She's) Some Kind of Wonderful" Related articles Discography Clover Back to the Future American Psycho Book:Huey Lewis and the News

Margrete Blossom Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009^[1]) was an American jazz singer and pianist, often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her girlish voice.^[2] One of the last supper club performers, she performed regular engagements in London and New York City over many years.^[2]

Early life[link]

Dearie was born on April 28, 1924,^[3] in East Durham, New York to a father of Irish-Scottish descent and a mother of Scandinavian descent. As a child she studied classical piano but switched to jazz in her teens.

Career beginnings[link]

After high school Dearie moved to New York City to pursue a music career and began to sing in groups such as the Blue Flames (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before starting her solo career.^[2]

She moved to Paris in 1952 and formed a vocal group, The Blue Stars of Paris, which included Michel Legrand's sister, Christiane Legrand, and Bob Dorough. In 1954 the group had a hit in France with a French-language version of "Lullaby of Birdland". The Blue Stars would later evolve into the Swingle Singers. While in Paris she met her future husband, Belgian flutist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she plays the piano but does not sing.^[2]

One of her most famous songs from that period is "The Riviera", which was written and composed by Cy Coleman and Joseph McCarthy Jr. in 1956.^[2]

Late 1950s and 1960s[link]

After returning from France, Dearie made her first six American albums as a solo singer and pianist for Verve Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, mostly in a small trio or quartet setting. Dave Garroway, host of The Today Show and an early fan of Dearie, featured her on several occasions, increasing her exposure with the popular audience. In 1962, she recorded a radio commercial for Hires Root Beer. As it proved very popular, the LP Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs was released as a premium item that could be ordered for one dollar and a proof of purchase.

In 1964, she recorded the album May I Come In? (Capitol/EMI Records). It was recorded (atypically for her) with an orchestra. During this same period, Dearie performed frequently in New York supper clubs and in 1966 made her first appearance at Ronnie Scott's club in London. She recorded four albums in the United Kingdom during the 1960s which were released on the Fontana label.

1970s and later[link]

After a period of inactivity, Dearie recorded the album That's Just the Way I Want to Be (containing the cult song "Dusty Springfield", an ode to the British pop star co-written by Dearie with Norma Tanega), which was released in 1970. In 1974, Dearie established her own label, Daffodil Records, which allowed her to have full control of the recording and distribution of her albums. Dearie appeared on television throughout her career, most notably giving her voice to the children's educational series Schoolhouse Rock!. Some of her pieces in this series were written by her good friend Bob Dorough, the jazz singer and composer. Her voice can be heard on "Mother Necessity",^[4] "Figure Eight",^[5] and "Unpack Your Adjectives".^[6]

Songwriter Johnny Mercer, with whom she collaborated for her 1975 song, "I'm Shadowing You",^[1] gave one of his final compositions to Dearie for the title song of her 1976 Daffodil album, My New Celebrity is You.^[7][8]

In 1983, Dearie was awarded the first Mabel Mercer Foundation Award.^[9]

Her voice and songs have been featured on the soundtracks of several films, including Kissing Jessica Stein, My Life Without Me, The Squid and the Whale, The Adventures of Felix, and The Artist. She also recorded songs with other singers, including Lyle Lovett. She continued to perform in clubs until 2006.^[1]

Dearie died "after a long illness" on February 7, 2009, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, New York City.^[1][9] She was survived by her older brother as well as a nephew and a niece. Her interment was in Flushing, New York's All Faiths Cemetery.

Discography[link]

EmArcy/Mercury Records

• The Blue Stars of France: Lullaby of Birdland and Other Famous Hits (1954) (with the Blue Stars vocal group)

Barclay Records

• Blossom Dearie Plays "April in Paris" (1956) (piano only)

Verve Records

• Blossom Dearie (1957)
• Give Him the Ooh-La-La (1957)
• Once Upon a Summertime (1958)
• Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Green (1959)
• Soubrette Sings Broadway Hit Songs (1960)
• My Gentleman Friend (1961)

Hires Root Beer/DIW Records

• Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs (1963)

Capitol/EMI Records

• May I Come In? (1964)

Fontana Records

• Blossom Time at Ronnie Scott's (1966) (live)
• Sweet Blossom Dearie (1967) (live)
• Soon It's Gonna Rain (1967)
• That's Just the Way I Want to Be (1970)

Daffodil Records

• Blossom Dearie Sings (1974)
• 1975: From The Meticulous to the Sublime (1975)
• My New Celebrity is You (1976)
• Winchester in Apple Blossom Time (1977)
• Needlepoint Magic (1979) (live)
• Simply (1983)
• Positively (1983)
• Et Tu, Bruce (1984) (live)
• Chez Wahlberg: Part One (1985)
• Songs of Chelsea (1987)
• Tweedledum & Tweedledee (Two People Who Resemble Each Other, in this Case Musically) (1991) (with Mike Renzi)
• Christmas Spice So Very Nice (1991) (with Mike Renzi)
• Our Favorite Songs (1996) (compilation)
• I'm Hip (1998) (compilation)
• Blossom's Planet (2000)
• It's All Right to Be Afraid (2003 single)

EMI Records

• Me and Phil (1994)

With other artists

• Alan Jay Lerner Revisited
• Arthur Schwartz Revisited
• Cole Porter Revisited Volume IV
• DeSylva, Brown & Henderson Revisited Volume I
• Frank Loesser Revisited
• Harold Arlen Revisited
• Harold Arlen & Vernon Duke Revisited Volume II
• Ira Gershwin Revisited
• Irving Berlin Revisited
• Kurt Weill Revisited Volume II
• Oscar Hammerstein Revisited
• Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume II
• Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume III
• Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume IV
• Unpublished Cole Porter Volume II
• Vernon Duke Revisited
• Vincent Youmans Revisited
• Hold On to Your Hats (Complete Score)

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Balliett, Whitney (1988). American Singers: 27 Portraits in Song. New York, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504610-2.
• Yohe, Tom and George Newall (1996). Schoolhouse Rock!: The Official Guide. New York, Hyperion Press. ISBN 0-7868-8170-4.

External links[link]

• Blossom Dearie official website
• Blossom Dearie at the Internet Movie Database
• NPR August 25, 1992 Interview with Blossom Dearie. The Girlish Voice Of Blossom Dearie.
• detailed discography
• Destinyland — podcast biography with songs
• Dearie performs several songs
• AP Obituary in the New York Times

John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker performing at the Long Beach Music Festival, August 31, 1997
Background information
Born	(1917-08-22)August 22, 1917 Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States[1]
Died	June 21, 2001(2001-06-21) (aged 83) Los Altos, California, United States
Genres	Blues, talking blues, country blues
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1943–2001[2]
Labels	Vee-Jay, Chess, Bluesway, Point Blank, Crown, Modern, Atco, King, Specialty, Polydor, Savoy, Impulse!, Ace, Atlantic, Verve
Associated acts	Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Canned Heat
Website	www.johnleehooker.com
Notable instruments
Epiphone Sheraton

John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1917 – June 21, 2001) was a highly influential American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally a unique brand of country blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark. Though similar to the early Delta blues, his music was metrically free. John Lee Hooker could be said to embody his own unique genre of the blues, often incorporating the boogie-woogie piano style and a driving rhythm into his blues guitar playing and singing. His best known songs include "Boogie Chillen'" (1948), "I'm in the Mood" (1951) and "Boom Boom" (1962), the first two reaching R&B #1 in the Billboard charts.

Early life[link]

There is some debate as to the year of Hooker's birth^[3][4] in Coahoma County, Mississippi,^[5] the youngest of the eleven children of William Hooker (1871–1923),^[6] a sharecropper and Baptist preacher, and Minnie Ramsey (born 1875, date of death unknown);^[7] according to his official website, he was born on August 22, 1917.

Hooker and his siblings were home-schooled. They were permitted to listen only to religious songs, with his earliest exposure being the spirituals sung in church. In 1921, his parents separated. The next year, his mother married William Moore, a blues singer who provided Hooker with his first introduction to the guitar (and whom John would later credit for his distinctive playing style).^[8] John's stepfather was his first outstanding blues influence. William Moore was a local blues guitarist who learned in Shreveport, Louisiana to play a droning, one-chord blues that was strikingly different from the Delta blues of the time.^[5] Around 1923 his natural father died. At the age of 15, John Lee Hooker ran away from home, reportedly never seeing his mother or stepfather again.^[9]

Throughout the 1930s, Hooker lived in Memphis, Tennessee where he worked on Beale Street at The New Daisy Theatre and occasionally performed at house parties.^[5] He worked in factories in various cities during World War II, drifting until he found himself in Detroit in 1948 working at Ford Motor Company. He felt right at home near the blues venues and saloons on Hastings Street, the heart of black entertainment on Detroit's east side. In a city noted for its pianists, guitar players were scarce. Performing in Detroit clubs, his popularity grew quickly and, seeking a louder instrument than his crude acoustic guitar, he bought his first electric guitar.^[10]

Career[link]

Hooker playing Massey Hall, Toronto Photo: Jean-Luc Ourlin

Hooker's recording career began in 1948 when his agent placed a demo, made by Hooker, with the Bihari brothers, owners of the Modern Records label. The company initially released an up-tempo number, "Boogie Chillen'", which became Hooker's first hit single.^[5] Though they were not songwriters, the Biharis often purchased or claimed co-authorship of songs that appeared on their labels, thus securing songwriting royalties for themselves, in addition to their own streams of income.

Sometimes these songs were older tunes which Hooker renamed, as with B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby", anonymous jams "B.B.'s Boogie" or songs by employees (bandleader Vince Weaver). The Biharis used a number of pseudonyms for songwriting credits: Jules was credited as Jules Taub; Joe as Joe Josea; and Sam as Sam Ling. One song by John Lee Hooker, "Down Child" is solely credited to "Taub", with Hooker receiving no credit for the song whatsoever. Another, "Turn Over a New Leaf" is credited to Hooker and "Ling".

In 1949, Hooker was recorded whilst performing in an informal setting for Detroit jazz enthusiasts, his repertoire included down-home and spiritual tunes which he would not record commercially.^[11] The recorded set has been made available in the album "Jack O'Diamonds".^[12]

Despite being illiterate, Hooker was a prolific [[lyricist. In addition to adapting the occasionally traditional blues lyric (such as "if I was chief of police, I would run her right out of town"), he freely invented many of his songs from scratch. Recording studios in the 1950s rarely paid black musicians more than a pittance, so Hooker would spend the night wandering from studio to studio, coming up with new songs or variations on his songs for each studio. Because of his recording contract, he would record these songs under obvious pseudonyms such as John Lee Booker, notably for Chess Records and Chance Records in 1951/52,^[13] as Johnny Lee for De Luxe Records in 1953/54^[13] as John Lee, and even John Lee Cooker,^[14] or as Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam and his Magic Guitar, Johnny Williams, or The Boogie Man.^[15]

His early solo songs were recorded under Bernie Besman. John Lee Hooker rarely played on a standard beat, changing tempo to fit the needs of the song. This often made it difficult to use backing musicians who were not accustomed to Hooker's musical vagaries. As a result, Besman would record Hooker, in addition to playing guitar and singing, stomping along with the music on a wooden pallet.^[16] For much of this time period he recorded and toured with Eddie Kirkland, who was still performing as of 2008. Later sessions for the VeeJay label in Chicago used studio musicians on most of his recordings, including Eddie Taylor, who could handle his musical idiosyncrasies very well. His biggest UK hit, "Boom Boom", (originally released on VeeJay) was recorded with a horn section.

Later life[link]

Toronto, August 20, 1978

He appeared and sang in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers. Due to Hooker's improvisational style, his performance was filmed and sound-recorded live at the scene at Chicago's Maxwell Street Market, in contrast to the usual "playback" technique used in most film musicals.^[17] Hooker was also a direct influence in the look of John Belushi's character Jake Blues.

In 1989, he joined with a number of musicians, including Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt to record The Healer, for which he and Santana won a Grammy Award. Hooker recorded several songs with Van Morrison, including "Never Get Out of These Blues Alive", "The Healing Game" and "I Cover the Waterfront". He also appeared on stage with Van Morrison several times, some of which was released on the live album A Night in San Francisco. The same year he appeared as the title character on Pete Townshend's The Iron Man: A Musical.

Hooker recorded over 100 albums. He lived the last years of his life in Long Beach, California.^[18] In 1997, he opened a nightclub in San Francisco's Fillmore District called "John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom Room", after one of his hits.^[19]

He fell ill just before a tour of Europe in 2001 and died on June 21 at the age of 83, two months before his 84th birthday. His last live in the studio recording on guitar and vocal was of a song he wrote with Pete Sears called "Elizebeth", featuring members of his "Coast to Coast Blues Band" with Sears on piano. It was recorded on January 14, 1998 at Bayview Studios in Richmond, California. The last song Hooker recorded before his death was "Ali D'Oro", a collaboration with the Italian soul singer Zucchero, in which Hooker sang the chorus "I lay down with an angel". He was survived by eight children, nineteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, a nephew, and fiance Sidora Dazi. One of his children is the musician John Lee Hooker, Jr.

Among his many awards, Hooker has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 1991 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Two of his songs, "Boogie Chillen" and "Boom Boom" were included in the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. "Boogie Chillen" was included as one of the Songs of the Century. He was also inducted in 1980 into the Blues Hall of Fame. In 2000, Hooker was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Music[link]

Hooker's guitar playing is closely aligned with piano boogie-woogie. He would play the walking bass pattern with his thumb, stopping to emphasize the end of a line with a series of trills, done by rapid hammer-ons and pull-offs. The songs that most epitomize his early sound are "Boogie Chillen", about being 17 and wanting to go out to dance at the Boogie clubs, "Baby, Please Don't Go", a blues standard first recorded by Big Joe Williams, and "Tupelo Blues",^[20] a stunningly sad song about the flooding of Tupelo, Mississippi in April 1936.

He maintained a solo career, popular with blues and folk music fans of the early 1960s and crossed over to white audiences, giving an early opportunity to the young Bob Dylan. As he got older, he added more and more people to his band, changing his live show from simply Hooker with his guitar to a large band, with Hooker singing.

His vocal phrasing was less closely tied to specific bars than most blues singers. This casual, rambling style had been gradually diminishing with the onset of electric blues bands from Chicago but, even when not playing solo, Hooker retained it in his sound.

Though Hooker lived in Detroit during most of his career, he is not associated with the Chicago-style blues prevalent in large northern cities, as much as he is with the southern rural blues styles, known as delta blues, country blues, folk blues, or "front porch blues". His use of an electric guitar tied together the Delta blues with the emerging post-war electric blues.^[21]

His songs have been covered by Buddy Guy, Cream, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Tom Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Van Morrison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, The Doors, The White Stripes, MC5, George Thorogood, R. L. Burnside, The J. Geils Band, The Gories, Cat Power, and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Awards and recognition[link]

• A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991
• Inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame in 2007.^[22]

Grammy Awards:

• Best Traditional Blues Recording, 1990 for I'm in the Mood (with Bonnie Raitt)
• Best Traditional Blues Recording, 1998 for Don't Look Back
• Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, 1998, "Don't Look Back" (with Van Morrison)
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000

• Two of his songs, "Boogie Chillen" and "Boom Boom" were named to the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. "Boogie Chillen" was included as one of the Songs of the Century.

Discography[link]

Singles[link]

Hooker issued a large number of singles, with almost a hundred releases by 1960.^[23]
Here are ten of his early classic recordings:

• Detroit September 1948 - Boogie Chillen' - Modern 627 (11/48) R&B #1 (Crown LP "The Blues")
• Detroit September 1948 - Hobo Blues - Modern 663 (3/49) R&B #5 (Crown LP "The Blues")
• Detroit September 1948 - Crawling King Snake - Modern 714 (10/49) R&B #6 (Crown LP "The Blues")
• Detroit August 7, 1951 - I'm In the Mood - Modern 835 (9/51) R&B #1 (Crown LP "The Blues")
• Detroit Early 1955 - The Syndicator b/w Hug And Squeeze - Modern 966 (8/55) (Crown LP "Sings The Blues")
• Chicago March 17, 1956 - Dimples - Vee-Jay 205 (8/56) (VJ LP "I'm John Lee Hooker")
• Chicago June 10, 1958 - I Love You Honey - Vee-Jay 293 (9/58) R&B #29 (VJ LP "I'm John Lee Hooker")
• Chicago March 1, 1960 - No Shoes - Vee-Jay 349 (4/60) R&B#21 (VJ LP "Travelin'")
• Chicago Late 1961 - Boom Boom - Vee-Jay 438 (4/62) R&B #16 (VJ LP "Burnin'")
• Chicago Mid 1964 - It Serves You Right (To Suffer) - Vee-Jay 708 (11/65) (VJ/Dynasty LP "In Person")

Albums[link]

Listed below are the original albums with notable reissues.
THE DETROIT YEARS (recordings 1948-1955)

• 1959 - House Of The Blues (Chess)
• 1960 - The Blues (Crown) early Modern tracks
• 1961 - Sings The Blues (Crown) - Modern tracks
• 1961 - Plays And Sings The Blues (Chess) 1950-52 tracks
• 1961 - Sings Blues (King)- reissued as "Moanin' and Stompin'", and "Don't You Remember Me", Texas Slim 1948-50 tracks
• 1962 - Folk Blues (Crown) - Modern tracks
• 1963 - The Great John Lee Hooker (Crown) - Modern tracks
• 1963 - Don't Turn Me from Your Door (Atco) 1953 and 1961 recordings
• 1963 - John Lee Hooker & Big Maceo Merriweather (Fortune)
• 1964 - Original Folk Blues (Kent)
• 1966 - John Lee Hooker & his Guitar (Advent)
• 1969 - No Friend Around (Advent/Red Lightnin')
• 1970 - Alone (Specialty)
• 1971 - Goin' Down Highway 51 (Specialty)
• 1971 - Coast to Coast Blues Band (United Artists)
• 1972 - Johnny Lee (GreeneBottle 2-LP)
• 1973 - John Lee Hooker's Detroit (United Artists 3-LP)
• 1973 - Mad Man Blues (Chess 2-LP compilation)
• 1973 - Hooker, Hopkins, Hogg (Specialty-Sonet)
• 1973 - Slim's Stomp (Polydor) - King tracks
• 1979 - Southern Blues (Savoy)
• 1981 - Blues For Big Town (Chess) - v.a. compilation featuring unissued early 1950s
• 1987 - Gotham Golden Classics - Rare Recordings (Collectables)
• 1987 - Detroit Blues (Krazy Kat)
• 1989 - 40th Anniversary Album (DCC) - reissued on Eiropean Demon as Detroit Lion
• 1990 - Boogie Awhile (Krazy Kat 2-LP)
• 1999 - Savoy Blues Legends, 1948-1949 (SavoyJazz/Atlantic) - reissued on Savoy
• 2000 - The Unknown John Lee Hooker (Krazy Kat) - 1951 tracks, reissued as "Jack 0'Diamonds" (Eagle, 2004)

THE CHICAGO YEARS

• 1959 - I'm John Lee Hooker (Vee-Jay)
• 1960 - Travelin (Vee-Jay)
• 1961 - The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker (Vee-Jay)
• 1962 - Burnin' (Vee-Jay)
• 1962 - The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker (Vee Jay)
• 1962 - The Best of John Lee Hooker (Vee Jay) - compilation
• 1963 - John Lee Hooker On Campus (Vee Jay) - ("I Want To Shout The Blues" on European Stateside) - reissued as "Big Band Blues" (Buddah Records)
• 1965 - ... And Seven Nights (Verve-Folkways) British recordings of 1964 (re-issued with brass overdub as "On The Waterfront" on Wand) - and reissued in several versions later
• 1965 - Is He The World's Greatest Blues Singer? (Vee Jay) compilation - reissued on Exodus
• 1974 - Gold (Vee Jay) - compilation comprisising "I'm John Lee Hooker" and "The Big Soul of"
• 1974 - In Person (VeeJay/Dynasty) late Vee-Jay tracks
• 1989 - The Hook - 20 Years of Hits & Hot Boogie (Chameleon) Vee-Jay license compilation
• 1993 - John Lee Hooker on Vee-Jay 1955-1958 (VeeJay) compilation

THE FOLK YEARS (recordings 1959-1963)

• 1959 - The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker (Riverside) - reissued as "How Long Blues" (Battle, 1963)
• 1960 - That's My Story - JLH Sings the Blues (Riverside) - reissued as "The Blues Man" (Battle, 1963)
• 1962 - John Lee Hooker (Galaxy) - reissued as "The King of Folk Blues" (America)
• 1963 - Live At Sugar Hill (Galaxy)
• 1964 - Burning Hell (Riverside) recorded 1959
• 1964 - Concert At Newport (Vee Jay) - reissued with bonus tracks as "Live At Newport" (Fantasy)
• 1966 - Teachin' The Blues (Guest Star) half an LP of recordings from 1961
• 1969 - That's Where It's At! (Stax) recordings of 1961
• 1971 - Detroit Special (Atlantic) compilation ("Don't Turn Me From Your Door" plus bonus tracks)
• 1972 - Boogie Chillun (Fantasy) ("Live at Sugar Hill" plus bonus tracks) - reissued on Ace as "Live at Sugar Hill Vol. 1 & 2"
• 1972 - Black Snake (Fantasy 2-set) - reissue of Riverside's "The Country Blues" and "That's My Story"
• 1979 - Sittin' Here Thinkin (Muse) - reissued as "Sad And Lonesome" (Savoy recordings of 1961)
• 2002 - Live At Sugar Hill, Vol. 2 (Fantasy) unissued recordings from 1961 (featuring a "third session")

THE ABC YEARS (recordings 1965-1974)

• 1966 - It Serves You Right to Suffer (Impulse! Records)
• 1966 - The Real Folk Blues (Chess) new Chicago recordings
• 1967 - Live at the Café Au Go-Go (Bluesway)
• 1967 - Urban Blues (Bluesway)
• 1968 - On The Waterfront (Wand) (... And Seven Nights" with brass overdub)
• 1969 - Simply The Truth (Bluesway)
• 1969 - If You Miss 'Im ... I Got 'Im (Bluesway)
• 1970 - I Wanna Dance All Night (America) Europe recordings - reissued with the next as "Black Rhythm 'n' Blues" (Festival)
• 1970 - I Feel Good (Carson) Europe recordings - reissued on Jewel (1972)
• 1971 - Get Back Home In The USA (Black & Blue) Europe recordings - reissued with bonus tracks as "Get Back Home"
• 1971 - Hooker 'n Heat (Liberty) - reissued as "Infinite Boogie" (Rhino)
• 1971 - Endless Boogie (ABC)
• 1972 - Never Get Out of These Blues Alive (ABC)
• 1972 - Live at Kabuki Wuki (Bluesway)
• 1973 - Live At Soledad Prison (ABC)
• 1973 - Born In Mississippi, Raised Up In Tennessee (ABC)
• 1974 - Free Beer And Chicken (ABC)
• 1991 - More Real Folk Blues - The Missing Album (Chess) - also issued with "The Real Folk Blues" as "The Complete Chess Folk Blues Sessions"

THE ROSEBUD YEARS (recordings 1975-2001)

• 1976 - Alone Vol 1 (Labor) live - reissued on Tomato
• 1976 - Alone - Live in New York Vol 2 (MMG) - reissued on Tomato
• 1978 - Live + Well (Ornament)
• 1978 - The Cream (Tomato) live recordings - reissued with bonus tracks on Charly
• 1979 - Live in 1978 (Lunar)
• 1981 - Hooker 'n' Heat Recorded Live at the Fox Venice Theatre (Rhino, various artists)
• 1986 - Jealous (Pulsa) - reissued on Pointblank 1996 - and on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
• 1989 - The Healer (Chameleon)
• 1990 - The Hot Spot (Featuring Miles Davis)
• 1991 - Mr. Lucky (Pointblank)
• 1992 - Boom Boom (Pointblank) - reissued on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
• 1995 - Chill Out (Pointblank) - reissued on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
• 1997 - Don't Look Back (Pointblank/Virgin) - reissued on Shout!Factory with bonus tracks
• 1998 - The Best of Friends (Pointblank) compilation 1986-1998 incl one new track - reissued on Shout!Factory download with bonus track
• 2003 - Face to Face (Eagle) new recordings

Compilations[link]

• 1990 - That's My Story/The Folk Blues of (Ace) - the two original Riverside LPs on one CD
• 1990 - That's Where It's At (Stax) reissue of Florida recordings from 1961
• 1991 - The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990 (Rhino 2CDbox)
• 1991 - Half A Stranger (Mainstream) Modern tracks 1948-1955 incl unedited masters
• 1991 - Free Beer And Chicken (BeatGoesOn/MCA) recorded 1974
• 1991 - Don't Turn Me From Your Door (Atlantic/Atco) 1953 and 1961 (incl the bonus tracks)
• 1992 - Graveyard Blues (Specialty/Ace) 1948-1950 Besman/Sensation tracks
• 1992 - The Best of John Lee Hooker 1965 to 1974 (Universal) Impulse and ABC/Bluesway recordings
• 1993 - Everybody's Blues (Specialty/Ace) Besman tracks of 1950-51 plus two 1954 sessions direct for Specialty
• 1993 - The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (Flair/Ace) the original singles
• 1994 - The Boogie Man (Charly DIG 5) anthology box featuring 1948-1966 (excluding Modern)
• 1995 - Alternative Boogie - Early Studio Recordings, 1948-1952 (Capitol 3CD) Besman alternates
• 1995 - The Gold Collection - 40 Classic Performances (Retro) 2 CD set Made in Italy by Phonocomp
• 1996 - Live at the Café Au Go-Go (and Soledad Prison) (Universal) 1966 with Muddy Waters' band and 1972
• 1998 - The Complete 50's Chess Recordings (Chess 2CD) anthology featuring the tracks from "House of the Blues" and "Plays and Sings the Blues" (1951–52) plus several bonus tracks from Fortune 1954 incl "Blues For Big Town"
• 2000 - The Complete 1964 recordings (RPM) last Vee-Jay session 1964 plus British London recordings - the British tracks reissued with brass overdubs as "The London 1965 Sessions" on Sequel
• 2000 - I'm John Lee Hooker (Charly -with bonus tracks) his very first LP, 1955-1959 recordings - reissued on SNAP in 2003 and without bonus tracks on Shout!Factory in 2007
• 2000 - Travelin' (Charly -with bonus tracks) the great LP session of 1960- reissued on SNAP in 2003
• 2000 - The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker (Charly -with bonus tracks) his third VJ LP - reissued on SNAP in 2003
• 2000 - Burnin' (Charly -with bonus tracks) the fourth VJ LP, 1962 - reissued on SNAP in 2003
• 2000 - The Complete - Vol. 1 1948-49 [Body & Soul 2CD]
• 2000 - The Complete - Vol. 2 1949 [Body & Soul 2CD]
• 2001 - The Complete - Vol. 3 1949-50 [Body & Soul 2CD]
• 2001 - House Rent Boogie (Ace) Modern compilation of rare early 1950s recordings
• 2001 - Testament - 3CDbox featuring some of the very best Vee-Jay recordings (Charly/Snapper)
• 2002 - The Complete - Vol. 4 1950-51 [Body & Soul 2CD]
• 2002 - The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues (Chess) 1966 recordings; reissue of the 1991 CD "The Complete Chess Folk Blues Sessions"
• 2002 - Giant of Blues (FruitTree 2CD) Charly license featuring 20 of the "Testament" tracks
• 2003 - Boogie Chillen' (Audio Fidelity) 1949 - 1952 Besman and Siracuse (engineer) compilation
• 2003 - Blues Kingpins - Blues Immortal (Virgin) 1948-1955 Modern anthology
• 2004 - Early Years - The Classic Savoy Sessions (Metro Doubles 2CD) recorded 1948 and 1961 - comprising the tracks from "Savoy Blues Legends" (Savoy in 1999 and 2003) and the 1961 Savoy recordings from "Sittin' Here Thinkin'" (32Blues in 2004 with the bonus track)
• 2004 - I'm A Boogie Man (Varése Sarabande) Vintage 1948 - 1953 Texas Slim and John Lee Booker (King/De Luxe tracks featuring all the King singles)
• 2004 - The Complete - Vol. 5 1951-53 [Body & Soul 2CD]
• 2005 - The Complete - Vol. 6 1953-54 [Body & Soul 2CD]
• 2005 - Blues Is The Healer (Membran), 149 songs from the early years in a German 10 CD box set
• 2006 - Hooker (4 disc chronological anthology covering his entire career) (Shout!Factory)
• 2006 - The Boogie Man 1948 - 1955 (Charly 4 CDBox) - not identical to Charly's rare CD DIG 5 (but this time also featuring Modern recordings)
• 2007 - Gold (Hip-O Select 2CD) 1948-2001 chronological anthology
• 2009 - John Lee Hooker Anthology: 50 Years (Shout! Factory 2CD) 1948-1998 chronological anthology
• 2009 - From Detroit to Chicago 1954-1958 (SagaBues46) Modern, Battle, and early Vee-Jay singles
• 2010 - At His Very Best (MetroUnionSquare 2CD) Vee-Jay compilation and some live recordings
• 2010 - Blues In Transition (Jasmine 2CD) Vee-Jay 1956-1959 plus the two Riverside sessions 1959 (50 tracks)

Film[link]

• The Blues Brothers on Maxwell Street (Chicago) outside the Aretha Franklin's restaurant (1980)
• John Lee Hooker & Furry Lewis DVD (1995)
• John Lee Hooker Rare Performances 1960 - 1984 DVD (2002)
• John Lee Hooker - Bits and pieces about ... DVD + CD (2006)

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Boogie Man: Adventures of John Lee Hooker in the American 20th Century, by Charles Shaar Murray, ISBN 0-14-016890-7.
• John Lee Hooker – That's My Story; Documentary by Jörg Bundschuh
• The Guinness Who's Who of Blues Edited by Colin Larkin. Second Edition 1995. Guinness Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-85112-673.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: John Lee Hooker

• John Lee Hooker at the Internet Movie Database
• Official website
• Discography and album ratings
• John Lee Hooker Resource Page The World's Greatest Blues Singer (with Session Discography and Year-by-Year Recap)
• John Lee Hooker 1980 Blues Foundation Induction into Hall of Fame
• The Boom Boom Room San Francisco nightclub founded by Hooker