Chico Banks (March 7, 1962 – December 3, 2008) was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer. He released one album, in 1997 on Evidence Music, produced by Larry Hoffman. Banks was both a band leader and sideman, having played with Chicago's blues musicians from his late teens until his death at the age of 46. He is best known for his tracks "Your Fine" and "Candy Lickin' Man". He was the son of the guitarist Jessie Banks, who played backing for the

Mighty Clouds of Joy The Mighty Clouds of Joy are an American traditional gospel music quartet. Joe Ligon Bio: Willie Joe Ligon was born on October 11, 1936, and died on December 11, 2016 (80 years, 2 months). He dedicated his life to Jesus making many hit songs ...

. One commentator noted that Banks "focuses on good-time, upbeat blues". He was an influence on the guitarist and singer

Reggie Sears Reggie Sears (born April 12, 1991) is an American recording artist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer, and a former child prodigy guitarist known for his songs "Dirty Dancer", "Dip My Dipper", and "You Betrayed Me". ...

Biography

He was born Vernon X. Banks in Chicago, Illinois. Banks was inspired by Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, Albert King,

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

, Otis Clay, George Benson and Tyrone Davis. His blues guitar playing incorporated jazz and

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

stylings. He first played in a covers group in his mid-teens. He later worked with Guy and Clay plus

Melvin Taylor Melvin Taylor (born March 13, 1959) is an American electric blues guitarist, based in Chicago. Career Taylor was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He moved to Chicago with his parents in 1962. He joined the Transistors, a popular music group. He s ...

, James Cotton, Little Milton, Magic Slim, and Big Time Sarah. He contributed to the album ''Long Way to Ol' Miss'', by

Willie Kent Willie Kent (February 24, 1936 – March 2, 2006) was an American Chicago blues singer, bassist and songwriter. Career Kent was born in Inverness, Sunflower County, Mississippi. Although he had played the bass guitar in Chicago's clubs since the ...

(1996), as well as to the album ''Back in Chicago'' by

Freddie Roulette Frederick Martin Roulette (May 3, 1939 – December 24, 2022) was an American electric blues lap steel guitarist and singer. He was best known as an exponent of the lap steel guitar. He was a member of the band Daphne Blue and collaborated with E ...

, which featured

and the Gents. His debut album, ''Candy Lickin' Man'', including vocals by

Mavis Staples Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress, and civil rights activist. She rose to fame as a member of her family's band The Staple Singers (she is the last surviving member of that band). Durin ...

, was produced by Larry Hoffman, and released by Evidence Records in 1997. Banks played on

Lee "Shot" Williams Henry Lee "Shot" Williams (May 21, 1938 – November 25, 2011) was an American blues singer. He got the nickname "Shot" from his mother at a young age, owing to his fondness for wearing suits and dressing up as a "big shot." Biography Williams ...

's album ''Let the Good Times Roll'' in 2002 and on Tyrone Davis's album ''Come to Daddy'' in 2003. In 2007, Banks underwent surgery for a faulty heart valve. He died in Chicago in December 2008, at the age of 46.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Chico 1962 births 2008 deaths American blues guitarists American male guitarists Chicago blues musicians American session musicians 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from Chicago 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American guitarists 21st-century American male musicians

Biography

See also

References