John Allen Campbell (January 20, 1952 – June 13, 1993) was an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Biography

Campbell was born and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. 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 Tyler is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the largest city and county seat of Smith County, Texas, Smith County. It is also the largest city in Northeast Texas. With a 2020 census population of 105,995, Tyler was the List of cities in Texa ...

, 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 New Orleans ( , ,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 :''This article refers to the musician. For the district attorney of Travis County, Texas, see Ronnie Earle.'' Ronnie Earl (born Ronald Horvath, March 10, 1953, Queens, New York, United States) is an American blues guitarist and music instructo ...

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). His "

When the Levee Breaks "When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. "When the Levee Bre ...

," was a cover of the country blues song written and first recorded by

Kansas Joe McCoy Wilbur "Kansas Joe" McCoy (May 11, 1905 – January 28, 1950) was an American Delta blues singer, musician and songwriter. Career McCoy performed under various stage names but is best known as Kansas Joe McCoy. Born in Raymond, Mississippi, he ...

and

Memphis Minnie Lizzie Douglas (June 3, 1897 – August 6, 1973), better known as Memphis Minnie, was a blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs, some of the best known being "Wh ...

in 1929 and covered also by

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...

. Campbell's favored instruments were a 1952

Gibson Gibson may refer to: People * Gibson (surname) Businesses * Gibson Brands, Inc., an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and audio equipment * Gibson Technology, and English automotive and motorsport company based * Gi ...

Southern Jumbo acoustic, a 1934

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

Steel and a 1940s

resophonic guitar.

Death

On June 13, 1993, Campbell died from a heart attack as he slept at his

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

home in New York City. He was 41. He was survived by his wife, Dolly Fox; a daughter, Paris; a daughter, Elizabeth; a sister, Ellen Searcey; a brother, William, and his father, John.

Album discography

*1975: ''Street Suite'' (Sync) *1988: ''A Man And His Blues'' (Cross Cut) *1991: ''One Believer'' ( Elektra) *1993: ''Howlin Mercy'' (Elektra) *2000: ''Tyler, Texas Session'' (Sphere Sound)

References

External links

Another MySpace Tribute Page more focused on his last albumJohn Campbell discography at discogs.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, John 1952 births 1993 deaths Musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana American blues guitarists American male guitarists American blues singers Songwriters from Louisiana 20th-century American singers Writers from Shreveport, Louisiana 20th-century American guitarists Singers from Louisiana Guitarists from Louisiana 20th-century American male musicians American male songwriters

Biography

Death

Album discography

See also

References

External links