Artist description Jay Hooks is a powerful Texas guitarist. His trio has recently finished thier second album and just got back to the USA after touring Europe. They are currently working on material for their upcomming CD.

Music Style Texas Style Blues/Rock

Musical Influences Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons, Albert Collins, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lighin' Hopkins

Similar Artists Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix

Artist History Texas, a place where history vibrates through the land and its images are compelling and timeless, especially for guitar driven blues. From Albert Collins to Johnny Winter to ZZ Top the best music from Texas has always featured a healthy dose of guitar. Now meet Jay Hooks with his powerful blend of slashing guitar and soulful vocals.Jay Hooks the, 30 year old Houston native who in his early years as a musician sought out and befriended a number of blues legends such as Joe "Guitar" Hughes, Albert Collins, and Billy Gibbons. As a teenager Jay hung out with an older crowd of people, and they would take him to see these great blues guitarists. Inevitably that early experience fueled his desire to become a soaring guitar player and vocalist. After a few years of playing guitar with local musicians, Antones recording artist, Miss Lavelle White, approached Jay, and hired him to go on the road throughout the U.S. and Canada in support of her new release; however after a year stint with Miss Lavelle, Jay knew it was time to start his own band.In early 1997, Jay went into Sugar Hills Studios (Houston) with his new band and recorded his debut release "Hooked Up" for Sunburst Records. The CD was released that summer and was well received. After successfully touring his trio throughout the Southwest, Sunburst Records decided to license "Hooked Up" in the European market. That effort caught the attention of Provogue-Mascot record executive, Ed van Zyl, who offered Jay a recording contract.Jay traveled to New York City to record with producer Ben Elliott at Showplace Studios which resulted in the self-titled CD for Provogue-mascot, "Jay Hooks", that was released worldwide in the fall of 2000. Ben has recorded blues legends Peter Green, Leslie West and Eric Clapton to name a few. The new CD features 12 originals that Jay co-wrote with David Whitehead, and as Jay Hooks so bluntly puts it, "I work real hard on perfecting my sound and have no plans of backing off the Hendrix/Vaughan style. I'm only interested in working on strictly guitar driven blues." This is Jay Hooks - deep-involved feelings with hard driving guitar. After all, when the house lights come up, it ain't what you play; it's how you play.

Group Members Jay Hooks - Guitar & Vocal... Maria Del Prete - Bass & Vocals... Joe Frenchwood - Drums

Instruments Bass, Drums, Guitar

Albums 1998 Hooked Up (Sunburst), 2000 Jay Hooks (Provogue)

Press Reviews Jay Hooks, new self-titled CD releaseReviewer: Lucky 13 Publishing Bet on Jay Hooks being the next big "talk of the town" among blues/rock guitar players. This guy is a lighting-fast, in your face guitar player, with a lot of feeling behind his music. His vocals are rough but that's just his style. Hooks is right on track with his sound. If you like Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Jimi Hendrix you're gonna love Jay Hooks. His down home Texas roots come to life in his music. "Straight Whiskey and "Last Time I Left Memphis" are slow burn blues tunes. "Where You Goin'?" and "Voodoo Woman" features some killer slide guitar and wah-pedal. "Hell On Heels" is a rock tune. Hooks breaks things up with a shuffle, two instrumentals, and even an acoustic blues number. There are not many blues rockers who would attempt that. This CD is a necessity for any hardcore blues rock fan.

Additional Info If you are a Jay Hooks fan, check out the D.A.M. CD offered here at mp3.com! You will not find this recording anywhere else. Actually the original Hooked Up release is currently out of print. The two songs on this mp3.com CD are the original recordings that landed Jay his recording deal with Provogue. These 2 songs were re-released on his new CD but this is the original recording done at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston and is bound to be a collectors item.

Location Houston, Texas - USA

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