John Lee Hooker
Photo: Herman Leonard

OAKLAND, California — He may have been one of the last of the great bluesmen, but John Lee Hooker didn't want anyone singing the blues at his funeral.

"When I'm gone, I don't want any weeping, crying, falling around, gnashing of teeth," he told his daughter Zakiya Hooker-Bell shortly before he died in his sleep on June 21 at the age of 83 (see "Legendary Bluesman John Lee Hooker Dead At 83"). "I want people to be joyous, because I'm going home. I'm tired. I've made a journey." That journey was celebrated in raucous song, prayer and story as nearly 1,800 friends, family and admirers paid tribute to the king of one-chord boogie during a 90-minute funeral service in the Oakland hills on Thursday. From Bonnie Raitt to harp player Charlie Musselwhite and old friend guitarist Eddie Kirkland, Hooker was celebrated as a blues guitar legend as well as a kind, funny and, above all, fiercely compassionate man (see "Thorogood, B.B. King, Remember Hooker As Great Friend and Musician").

Hooker — born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on August 22, 1917 — was laid to rest in a highly polished mahogany casket, which sat flanked at the front of the Oakland Interstake Center Auditorium by a chair made of gardenias and an oversized guitar fashioned from deep red and black carnations.

As guests made their way into the auditorium, a murmuring tape of some of Hooker's best-loved songs greeted them. The droning chords of "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" set the mood for a service that featured son Robert Hooker bringing the crowd to its feet with the rousing gospel song "I Still Have Joy" and a call-and-response chant of his father's signature phrase, "Hey, hey." Blues singer/guitarist Raitt — who shared a Grammy with Hooker in 1990 for their duet on "I'm in the Mood" — was close to tears as she eulogized her friend of 30 years. She recounted how Hooker used to pull her boyfriends aside and taunt them, "I'm really happy for you two, but you got to understand I'm always going to be the backdoor man." Raitt remembered being 14 years old in 1963 and having her mind blown by Hooker's contributions to the seminal Blues at Newport compilation. "I had never heard anything coming out of any man that was as scary and evocative and as intoxicating [and as frightening]. And I feel the same way about him today." Among the other peers on hand to celebrate Hooker were Chicago blues great Buddy Guy, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Vaughan, Roy Rogers and more than 20 former members of Hooker's band.

Hooker's oldest daughter, Francis C. McBee, read a moving letter to her father in which she summed up the enduring mystery of great blues players. "You did things your way until the end," she read. "Instead of dying during the day, you died during the night so that you could have a clean getaway. Instead of leaving by the front door, you stepped out the back door and went quietly into history." McBee said she hoped that on his way to his resting place, her father would have all the things he loved: plenty of pretty women, baseball, a good heater and "a little light beer." The many gospel tributes to Hooker from his friends and family summed up the bittersweet mood of the afternoon. Granddaughter LaQuita Witherspoon raised the roof with an organ-assisted rendition of the standard "I'll Fly Away," which inspired the mourners to shouts of "amen" and stomping of feet. Organ player and onetime Hooker sideman Deacon Jones brought the service to a close with a haunting rendition of "We'll Meet Again." Several family members wailed and collapsed into tears as they filed out to the refrain "I know before my life ends/ We'll meet again."

• John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker
Photo: Herman Leonard

Blues legend John Lee Hooker will be laid to rest in Oakland, California, this week, with services open to the public on Wednesday and Thursday.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Chimes on Wednesday, beginning at 1p.m. The memorial service will take place at Oakland Interstake Center Auditorium on Thursday, also starting at 1 p.m. A private burial will be held following the service or later in the week.

Hooker, whose one-chord boogies influenced countless blues and rock musicians, died in his sleep at age 83 in his Los Altos, California, home on Thursday (see "Legendary Bluesman John Lee Hooker Dead at 83"). Just five days before, he gave his final performance in nearby Santa Rosa.

Hooker estimated he recorded more than 100 albums since cutting his first single, "Boogie Chillen," in 1948. He released his final album, Don't Look Back, in 1997. Among the scores of musicians who have cited Hooker as an influence or have covered his songs are the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Ben Harper (see "Thorogood, B.B. King Remember Hooker As Great Friend And Musician").

Reflecting on Hooker's death on Friday, U2 frontman Bono said he wrote "Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car" for Hooker to record, but the session never happened. The song appeared on U2's 1993 album Zooropa. "It sounds kind of electronic the way it was recorded, but originally it was a blues number," Bono said. "But Daddy never recorded. Daddy never got into the studio for that one. So, I'm very sad. A genius. I think he was told that before he died, so I think that makes it a little less of a tragedy." "He was one of the two or three most influential blues artists that have ever been," guitarist the Edge said. "They created a whole genre of music. A lot of bands from the '60s and '70s borrowed a lot of his ideas. Anyone who really understands how influential they were, maybe that's the important thing." Allowing that it may sound "pathetic," Moby said the first time he ever heard Hooker was when he watched the 1980 film "The Blues Brothers," in which Hooker had a cameo as a street musician. "I didn't know that someone's voice could be that low and that powerful," he said. "It's a scene where they go to the Ray Charles Music Shop, and he does 'Boom Boom' and his voice comes on and, still just thinking about it, it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. That just had this quality of the things he's seen and done, and me being 12 years old, I couldn't even imagine." Flowers and letters may be sent to Chapel of the Chimes, located at 4499 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611. Donations may be sent to the John Lee Hooker Foundation, c/o Metro Commerce Bank, 1248 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901, Attn: Larry Tidwell. Correspondence may also be sent to John Lee Hooker Family, c/o Bates Meyer Inc., 714 Brookside Lane, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

• John Lee Hooker
• U2
• Moby

John Lee Hooker
Photo: Anton Corbijn

Blues patriarch John Lee Hooker may have been known for his one-chord guitar playing, but that was enough to inspire countless musicians to get their boogie on. "He was timeless, he was priceless and he was precious," Hooker's close friend George Thorogood said backstage before a show in London on Friday night. "And I won't say the world is a little colder now — I'll just say that heaven is a little warmer." Thorogood, who met Hooker in 1971, had a radio hit in 1977 with the Boogie Man's "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer." He dedicated Friday's show at Shepherd's Bush Empire to his friend.

One of the last links to the original Delta bluesmen, Hooker died in his sleep at age 83 in his Los Altos, California, home on Thursday, just days after giving his final performance in nearby Santa Rosa (see "Legendary Bluesman John Lee Hooker Dead at 83").

"I know I've lost a good friend, and the world has lost a great talent," B.B. King said in a statement. "He was the best at what he did." Hooker, known for his hypnotic grooves and deep growl, estimated he recorded more than 100 albums since cutting his first single, "Boogie Chillen," in 1948. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2000 Grammys. Among the scores of musicians who have cited Hooker as an influence or have covered his songs are the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Ben Harper.

"When I was a child, he was the first circus I wanted to run away with," Santana said in a statement.

Bassist Billy Blough of Thorogood's backing group, the Destroyers, said Hooker is "probably the reason for this band's existence." Born in August 1917 near Clarksdale, Mississippi, Hooker was one of 11 children. He began singing spiritual music at a young age, but he credited his stepfather, William Moore, with fueling his love for blues by teaching him guitar. After stints in Memphis and Cincinnati, he eventually made his way to Detroit and began building a reputation in the Motor City's blues scene. His popularity soared during the 1950s blues revival with such hits as "Boom Boom" and "Dimples." "What a loss to the blues world, and how sad having known him so well and for so long," British blues pioneer John Mayall said in a statement. "He's always been one of the foundation stones in my blues roster of influences, and I'll miss him." Mayall's Bluesbreakers were hired as Hooker's backing band for a summer 1964 tour, and Hooker appeared on Mayall's 1999 release, Padlock on the Blues. He helped pass on Hooker's mojo by influencing such artists as Clapton and Mick Taylor as well as Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, who went on to form Fleetwood Mac.

In the '60s, Hooker won over folk fans by switching to a solo acoustic format, while rock acts like the Stones proclaimed him as an influence.

Though blues' popularity declined, Hooker continued play live, write music and record throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s. His final studio album was 1997's Don't Look Back. "Any [musician] who has been doing his own thing for so long to the point where you have so much respect for them, you almost want to be them," former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash said. "The real traditional, down-home blues guitar playing has always been a huge influence on me and countless other guitar players. You could talk to anyone from Eddie Van Halen to Eric Clapton and they'll tell you that." Hooker made a comeback with 1989's The Healer, featuring guest appearances from Santana, Los Lobos and Robert Cray. The album's duet with Bonnie Raitt on "I'm in the Mood" earned him his first Grammy Award.

"I'm deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and one of the last and greatest of the original Delta bluesmen," Raitt said in a statement Thursday. "John Lee's power and influence in the world of rock, R&B, jazz and blues are a legacy that will never die. Getting to know him and work with him these last 30 years has truly been one of the greatest joys of my life. I'm so very grateful to have known him and know that he went not in pain, truly loved and appreciated the world 'round." Cray, who is credited with helping revive the blues in the '80s, said, "I loved John Lee, and I'll never forget him. In my mind right now, all I can see is John Lee surrounded by people who love him." "A few years back, we lost a lot of great players, like my dad, Johnny Copeland, and Luther Allison," said Shemekia Copeland, who released her acclaimed second album, Wicked, last year. "They were younger, but you just kind of expected John Lee Hooker to live forever." Even with the passing of one of its greatest stars, the blues flame burns bright, with artists like Kenny Wayne Shepherd carrying the torch.

"I was only fortunate enough to meet John Lee Hooker once, but I've listened to his music my whole life," the 24-year-old Shepherd said Friday in a statement. "He lived the hard life when he was young, and it made his music as real as it gets. His impact on blues and rock and roll will always be huge, and everyone who plays and sings should thank him every day for what he gave us." Memorial services for Hooker were still being finalized at press time. A private funeral will likely be held on Wednesday, with a possible public service to follow a few days later, according to Hooker's management office.

• John Lee Hooker
• B.B. King
• George Thorogood
• Santana
• John Mayall

John Lee Hooker
Photo: Anton Corbijn

Blues legend John Lee Hooker, whose unique boogie style mesmerized fans for six decades and influenced countless blues and rock musicians, died on Thursday in his home near San Francisco. He was 83.

The Grammy-winning singer/guitarist passed away peacefully in his sleep, according to his agent, Mike Kappus.

Hooker, known for his hypnotic, one-chord grooves and mournful, gravelly vocals, gave his final performance on Saturday night in Santa Rosa, California.

"He was a unique individual, one of the last of the original Mississippi Delta bluesmen, and he impacted rock and roll more than most people will ever know," said Kappus, who also managed Hooker for 25 years. "He loved his fans and wanted to keep playing until the end, and he did exactly that." Hooker's friend and colleague, veteran blues guitarist Buddy Guy, learned of his death just before he went onstage in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Thursday night.

"The blues world suffered a tremendous loss today with the passing of John Lee," Guy said through his manager, Glen Phillips. "In the past weeks I have told many journalists that there weren't many of us left. We had a lot of fun together, and he leaves me with many great memories. He will be sorely missed." Musicians who have cited Hooker as an influence or have covered his songs include the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Ben Harper, PJ Harvey, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Led Zeppelin, Los Lobos, Bonnie Raitt and Nick Cave.

"For musicians and common people — all of us feel enormous gratitude, respect, admiration and love for his spirit," Santana, who appeared on Hooker's The Healer (1989) and Chill Out (1995), said in a statement on Thursday. "When I was a child, he was the first circus I wanted to run away with. ... Working with him ... is something that I will deeply treasure. On behalf of [Chester Thompson], everyone in my band and myself, we say to you, John, 'Boogie in the Light.'" Hooker was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on August 22, 1917, to a large Baptist family of sharecroppers. He began singing spiritual music at a young age, but he credited his stepfather with fueling his love for the blues.

After moving to Memphis and then to Cincinnati, Hooker eventually wound up in Detroit. In the years following World War II, he built a reputation in the Motor City's blues scene, recording his first single, "Boogie Chillen," in 1948. The song featured the autobiographical lyrics "One night I was layin' down/ ... I heard Papa tell Mama/ Let that boy boogie-woogie/ It's in him/ And it got to come out." "The first song I ever learned on the guitar was 'Boogie Chillen'" Guy said. "I still play it today, as I will tonight and I always will." "Chillen" kicked open the door for a string of hits, including "Rock House Boogie," "Crawling King Snake" and "I'm in the Mood." Frustrated with recording contracts, Hooker spent the early '50s recording for multiple labels under different names, including Texas Slim, John Lee Booker, John Lee Cocker, Delta John, Birmingham Sam and Johnny Williams. He went back to making music under his own name in 1955 when he signed with Vee-Jay Records. His popularity continued to grow over the next decade, thanks to such tunes as "Big Legs, Tight Skirt." In 1970, he and blues-rock band Canned Heat released the hit album Hooker n' Heat. In 1980, he had a cameo in "The Blues Brothers" movie, playing a street musician.

The Healer garnered him his first Grammy for the duet with Raitt on "I'm in the Mood," and Hooker was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

Though his health began to slow him down, he continued to record music and put on electrifying live performances. Don't Look Back (1997) nabbed him the Best Traditional Blues Album Grammy, while its title track, a collaboration with Morrison, won the Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals trophy.

Early last year, Hooker cancelled a tour after he was diagnosed with a vascular condition affecting the veins serving his stomach and kidneys. Still, he managed to deliver an hour-long set at his own Boom Boom Room club in San Francisco that April (see "Growling, Prowling John Lee Hooker Returns In Top Form").

"He was loved dearly, and we will all miss him greatly," read a statement from his family. "We thank everyone for their kind wishes and condolences." Funeral and memorial arrangements have not been announced.

• John Lee Hooker