Long John Hunter
11,653 plays (3,238 listeners)
For much too long, the legend of Long John Hunter has largely been a local one, limited to the bordertown region between El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. That’s where the guitarist reigned for 13 years (beginning in 1957) at Juarez’s infamous Lobby Bar. Its riotous, often brawling clientele included locals, cowboys, soldiers from nearby Fort Bliss, frat boys, and every sort of troublemaking tourist in between. Hunter kept ‘em all entertained with his outrageous showmanship and slashing guitar riffs.
The Louisiana native got a late start on his musical career. When he was 22 and toiling away in a Beaumont, TX box factory, he attended a B.B. King show and was instantly transfixed. The next day, he bought a guitar. A year later, he was starring at the same bar that B.B. had headlined.
Hunter’s 1954 debut single for Don Robey’s Houston-based Duke label, “She Used to Be My Woman”/”Crazy Baby,” preceded his move to El Paso in 1957. Along the way, Phillip Walker and Lonnie Brooks both picked up on his licks. But Hunter’s recording output was slim — a few hot but obscure singles waxed from 1961 to 1963 for the tiny Yucca logo out of Alamogordo, NM (standouts include “El Paso Rock,” “Midnight Stroll,” and “Border Town Blues”). Perhaps he was just too busy — he held court at the Lobby seven nights a week from sundown to sunup.
Fortunately, Hunter’s reputation is finally outgrowing the Lone Star state.
The Louisiana native got a late start on his musical career. When he was 22 and toiling away in a Beaumont, TX box factory, he attended a B.B. King show and was instantly transfixed. The next day, he bought a guitar. A year later, he was starring at the same bar that B.B. had headlined.
Hunter’s 1954 debut single for Don Robey’s Houston-based Duke label, “She Used to Be My Woman”/”Crazy Baby,” preceded his move to El Paso in 1957. Along the way, Phillip Walker and Lonnie Brooks both picked up on his licks. But Hunter’s recording output was slim — a few hot but obscure singles waxed from 1961 to 1963 for the tiny Yucca logo out of Alamogordo, NM (standouts include “El Paso Rock,” “Midnight Stroll,” and “Border Town Blues”). Perhaps he was just too busy — he held court at the Lobby seven nights a week from sundown to sunup.
Fortunately, Hunter’s reputation is finally outgrowing the Lone Star state.
Top Albums
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Swinging from the Rafters
Long John Hunter
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Border Town Legend
Long John Hunter Buy- Download Album
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Ooh Wee Pretty Baby!
Long John Hunter Buy- Download Album
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Ride with Me
Long John Hunter Buy- Download Album
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- Amazon $8.49
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Top Tracks
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Time And Time Again
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Trouble On The Line
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Both Ends Of The Road
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T-Bone Intentions
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Road Hog
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Lone Star Shootout
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el paso rock
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I'm Broke
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V-8 Ford
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Stop What You're Doing
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Marfa Lights
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Recent Activity
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nicengreasy and sublimeericb added Long John Hunter to their libraries. last week
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flower123garden tagged Long John Hunter with long john hunter, john hunter and blues. last month
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adroidmortox, PrakashKrishnan, velvethammer-1 and 4 other people added Long John Hunter to their libraries. December 2009
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marcinrr connected Long John Hunter to the group Cazumbi. October 2009
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thorsenjon, jenna12381, elmolewis42 and 5 other people added Long John Hunter to their libraries. October 2009
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Bessermacher, pram16, mamliegin and 7 other people added Long John Hunter to their libraries. August 2009
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Bessermacher tagged Long John Hunter with ‘classic blues’. August 2009
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Beachm tagged Long John Hunter with ‘texas blues’. May 2009
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allboutguitar tagged Long John Hunter with allboutguitarcom, radio berlin, radio karlsruhe and 6 other tags. April 2009
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allboutguitar and ogrichsmaster added Long John Hunter to their libraries. April 2009
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