George Carter "Mojo" Buford Jr. (November 10, 1929 – October 11, 2011),[1] was an American blues harmonica player best known for his work in Muddy Waters's band.
George "Mojo" Buford | |
|---|---|
 Buford in 1970 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | George Carter Buford Jr. |
| Born | November 10, 1929 Hernando, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | October 11, 2011 (aged 81) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | Early 1950s–2011 |
Biography edit
Buford relocated from Hernando, Mississippi, to Memphis, Tennessee, in his youth, where he studied the blues.[2] He relocated to Chicago in 1952,[3] forming the Savage Boys, which eventually was known as the Muddy Waters, Jr. Band. They substituted for Waters at local nightclubs while he was touring.[2]
Buford first played in Waters's backing band in 1959, replacing Little Walter, but in 1962 moved to Minneapolis to front his own band and to record albums.[2] In Minneapolis he gained the nickname Mojo, because of audiences requesting him to perform his cover version of "Got My Mojo Working."[4] Buford returned to Waters's combo in 1967 for a year, replacing James Cotton.[4] He had a longer tenure with Waters in the early 1970s and returned for the final time after Jerry Portnoy departed to form the Legendary Blues Band.[2]
He also recorded for the Mr. Blues label. These recordings were later reissued by Rooster Blues, Blue Loon Records, and the British JSP label.[2]
Buford died on October 11, 2011, at the age of 81, in Minneapolis, after a long hospitalization.[2][5]
Discography edit
- Exciting Harmonica Sound of Mojo Buford, BluesRecordSoc, 1963
- Mojo Buford's Chicago Blues Summit, Rooster Blues, 1979
- State of the Blues Harp, JSP, 1989
- Harpslinger, Blue Loon, 1993
- Still Blowin' Strong (Blue Loon, 1996)
- Home Is Where My Harps Is, Blue Loon, 1998
- Champagne & Reefer, Fedora Records, 1999
- Blues Ain't a Color, Kpnbeat, 2005[6]
- Mojo Workin’, Sundazed, 2020
With Otis Spann
- The Bottom of the Blues (BluesWay, 1968)
With Muddy Waters
- "Unk" in Funk (Chess, 1974)
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-313-34423-7.
- ^ a b c d e f Skelly, Richard. "George "Mojo" Buford: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 96. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ a b "George Mojo Buford, a Mississippi Musician". Mswritersandmusicians.com. November 10, 1929. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ "Mojo Buford, Former Muddy Waters Harmonica Player, Has Passed". Ameriblues.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ^ "George 'Mojo' Buford: Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 26, 2014.