Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr., was born in Detroit, Michigan, and he is the son of one of the greatest blues legends that has ever lived, the late and the great, John Lee Hooker (1917-2001). He is an artist who has received multiple awards throughout his career; he was also nominated for a Grammy in 2004 and 2008, and the recipient of the 2018 “Bobby Bland Lifetime Achievement Award.”
He was exposed to the music world at the age of 8 years old, and as a teenager he toured with his dad as the featured attraction, he also had the opportunity to record with him live inside of the notorious Soledad prison, where that gig in 1972 became his residence in 1986, as a result of drug addiction which would land him in and out of jails and prisons for the next several decades of his life.
Hooker Jr’s debut CD “Blues with A Vengeance” recorded in 2004, and “All Odds Against Me,” 2008, produced by Will Roc Griffin, and “That’s What the Blues is all about” recorded in 2012 in Zakopane, Poland, produced by Frank Thibeaux; were achievements that made a clear distinction from his father’s style of music and exemplified his authenticity as a musician.
His next CD “All Hooked Up,” produced by the legendary Mr. Larry Batiste, who also produced his newly released and first Gospel CD “Testify,” which was released in 2020 on his own label, “Steppin’ Stone.” “Testify” has recently garnered several nominations and a win by “Atlas Elite Awards” for his single “My God Is Holy,” for Best Gospel Song of the Year. His new single “Hallelujah” was released on August 6, 2021, it is a song about redemption, praise, and the testimony, about how a loving God delivered him from a lifetime of drug addiction, gun violence, homelessness, and incarceration; it features the legends, Charlie Musselwhite and Eddie Mininfield.
Rev. John Lee has an Associate of Arts Degree with EPIC Bible College in Sacramento CA., he also has a Bachelors Degree in Counseling and a Masters Degree in Ministry, from Newburgh Seminary. He also owns a Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E) Certificate and is a Palliative Care Chaplain and was also a Hospice Care Chaplain.
Reverend John Jr. has shared the stage with musical giants such as, his late dad, his sister Zakiya Hooker, B.B King, Snoop Dogg, Lenny Kravitz, Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Joss Stone, The Wailers, Jethro Tull and the Rolling Stones.
These days Reverend John Lee is singing a new genre of music, having transitioned from the Blues to the Good News of Gospel music, about His Savior. As part of his ministry as a prison Chaplain, he visits prisons all over the USA, including Germany where he now resides. He has also preached and sang in churches throughout Germany such as Cloppenburg, Hamburg, Idar Oberstein, and Domersleben, just to mention a few. He was also given the honor of participating in NASCAR Motorsport Arena Oschersleben 2023, singing the American National Anthem, reciting a heartwarming prayer for the drivers, and starting the race. Rev Hooker released his new single and video “Running for Jesus!” July 19th, 2024, written by himself and co-written and produced by Larry Batiste, available on all media outlets like Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, etc.
Today, he is the author of a new book, about his life story, soon to be released on the 4th of Feb, 2025, titled, “Free from the Shadows of the Blues: My Story of Music, Addiction, and Redemption”, with Professor Julia Simon, by Littlefield and Rowan Book Publishers, he aims to inspire those who have traveled on the dark side of life. Music is in his mind and the Gospel is in his soul, all to the glory of his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ to Whom he serves.
