John Campbell | |
---|---|
Birth name | John Allen Campbell |
Also known as | Johnny "Slim" Campbell |
Born |
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
January 20, 1952
Died | June 13, 1993 New York City, New York, U.S. |
(aged 41)
Genres | Blues, Delta blues, electric blues |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
Labels | Elektra, Sync, Cross Cut, Blue Rock'it, Sphere Sound |
Notable instruments | |
1952 Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic 1934 National Steel 1940s National resophonic guitar |
John Allen Campbell (January 20, 1952 – June 13, 1993) was an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Campbell was born and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana.
His first group was the Texas-based electric power trio, Junction. Formed in 1973 in Corpus Christi, Texas, the band consisted of John on guitar and vocals, Tim Delaney on bass and vocals, and Jack "Satch" Haupt on drums and vocals. The trio disbanded two years later. Campbell cut his first album titled Street Suite around this same time.
At the eve of the 1980s he spent a time at the Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas and taped a demo with his acoustic versions of blues standards. In 2000 these twelve tracks were issued as the compilation album, Tyler, Texas Session.
As a solo artist, Campbell continued to play in clubs of East Texas and he also appeared in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1985, he moved to New York City, New York, and joined the local blues scene.
His album, A Man And His Blues, featured Ronnie Earl as producer and guest guitarist, was recorded during two days in April 1988, and was released on a small German record label. Its follow-up releases were on Elektra, One Believer (1991) and Howlin Mercy (1993). The latter included the single cover version of Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks".
Campbell's favored instruments were a 1952 Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic, a 1934 National Steel and a 1940s National resophonic guitar.