Happy Birthday Hammond B-3 Organ Booker T. Jones!
🍾Booker T. Jones, born November 11, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of Soul and Rock music’s premier musicians — a multi-instrumentalist and a musical prodigy. He plays trombone, sax, oboe, double bass, and piano — but may be best known for his trademark sound on the Hammond B-3 organ.
Booker began playing professionally as a teenager and attended Booker T. Washington High School! And yes, he and his father were both named after Booker T. Washington — educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States.
As a young man, he attended Indiana University where he studied musical composition while also playing with his band Booker T and the MGs; at Stax Records, he worked as a session musician and song writer; and among his mega hits is “Born Under A Bad Sign.”
Booker T. was the leader of the MGs, one of the first interracial soul bands. Their instrumentals included mega hits such as “Green Onions“, “Hip Hug-Her” and “Time Is Tight.”
Booker T. has played on recordings for many other major musicians,: Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, Rod Stewart, Richie Havens, and John Lee Hooker. Over the years, He and the surviving members of the MGs have reunited several times .
His list of honors: in 1992, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, multiple Grammy Awards including a Lifetime Achievement accolade in 2007, and an Honorary Doctorate from Indiana University!
Watch What’s In My Bag? — his explanation of the influences of musicians Ray Charles, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gil Scott Herron, George Shearing, Jimmy Smith, Bob Dillon, believe it or not, Classical Music’s Vivaldi, and, many others. Photo: Carl Lender, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Booker T. is still performing and charming people around the world with his skills.