John Primer (US)

John Primer has made it his life’s work to keep the traditional Chicago blues alive, constantly sharing his experience and knowledge with new generations of musicians. Primer is referred to as “The Real Deal”, the very definition of real, live blues, and six months after his 80th birthday he can finally be experienced at Dark Season Blues.

He was born in Mississippi in 1945. He learned to sing at an early age while working on the cotton plantation, dreaming away listening to Muddy Waters and B.B. King on his grandmother’s old record player. At 18, he moved to Chicago, where he played with the likes of Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and James Cotton. Willie Dixon caught John’s eye and he went on tour with the Chicago Blues All-Stars Band.

John’s biggest dream came true when Muddy Waters brought him into his band in 1979. After Muddy’s death in 1983, he moved on to Magic Slim & The Teardrops. In 1995 he started his own band, The Real Deal Blues Band. Since then, he has played on more than 100 albums, 17 of which are in his own name. Primer has been nominated for a Grammy three times and has received numerous blues awards. He has also been inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame. During the festival he will be backed by Billy T. Band.

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