Earl Hooker was born into a family that already had one great bluesman, cousin John Lee Hooker. Hooker taught himself to play the guitar at ten years old, and was soon living in Chicago where he honed his skills at a music school. In Chicago, Hooker began making a name for himself by playing alongside the likes of Bo Diddley on street corners. By the early ’50s, Hooker was living in Memphis playing with Ike Turner and Sonny Boy Williamson II. Hooker died at the age of 41 as a result of tuberculosis.
Jackie Brenston
August 15, 1930 – December 15, 1979
Jackie Brenston was an R&B singer and musician whose biggest claim to fame was, as part of Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, wrote and sang lead on “Rocket 88,” considered by many to be the very first rock ‘n roll song. The record, credited to Jackie Brenston & His Rhythm Cats was released on Chess Records and quickly reached the top of the R&B singles chart where it stayed for over a month. In later years, Bernston worked with Lowell Fulson and Earl Hooker. Jackie Bernston, 49, died of a heart attack on December 15, 1979.
Izear “Ike” Turner
November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007
Ike Turner was a musician, producer and band leader who is consider one of rock ‘n roll’s pioneers. He is likely best remembered however, for his work with one-time wife, Tina Turner. Born in Mississippi in 1931, Turner’s life in music began at just eight years old when he began working for a Clarksdale radio station. A short time later, he was working as a roadie of sorts for blues great, Robert Nighthawk. In the late ’40s, Turner formed a band called the Kings of Rhythm whose “Rocket 88” is often credited as the very first rock ‘n roll song. He and his band eventually settled in St. Louis where he picked up work as a talent scout for various labels including Sun Records. In that position, he helped launch the careers of such future legends as Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolfand Otis Rush. In the late ’50s, Turner witnessed a teenage girl by the name of Anna Mae Bullock belt out a B.B. King song at t local club. The two soon married, and Bullock was rechristened, Tina Turner, thus launching the dynamic Ike & Tina Turner Review, with Tina out front and Ike, the band leading guitarist. Over the next several years, the duo became superstars releasing such rockin’ R&B numbers as “River Deep Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” and “Nutbush City Limits.” In 1976, the pair went through a bitter break up, both personally and professionally. During the ’80s, Tina became one of the biggest stars in the world, but Ike wasn’t as fortunate. He kept a relatively low profile other than an occasional run-in with the law or an appearance on talk shows like Howard Stern where he once claimed that he and Tina actually never got married. On December 12, 2007, Ike Turner, age 76, died of what was ruled a cocaine overdose with other cardiovascular and respiratory factors.
Junior Parker (Born Herman Parker)
May 27, 1932 – November 18, 1971
Junior Parker was a Memphis blues and R&B singer and musician who became successful thanks to a voice that has been described as “velvet smooth.” He began playing the local blues circuit while still in his teens, and by the early ’50s, he had already performed alongside Sonny Boy Williamson, B.B. King, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Howlin’ Wolf. In 1951, Parker formed the Blue Flames who cut their first record with the help of Ike Turner. The record lead to a deal with Sam Phillips‘ Sun Records where he released a string of hits including the top 5 R&B hit, “Feelin’ Good,” and “Mystery Train,” which was later made into a hit by Elvis Presley. Parker continued to make records well into the ’60s, but none achieved the success of his earlier recordings. Junior Parker was 39 when he died during surgery for a brain tumor.
themusicsover 
Junior Parker was a Memphis blues and R&B singer and musician who became successful thanks to a voice that has been described as “velvet smooth.” He began playing the local blues circuit while still in his teens, and by the early ’50s, he had already performed alongside 