Biography
During the 1950s Houston served as a thriving center for electrifying blues guitarists. Although Joe Hughes never achieved the same level of recognition as fellow locals Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland, he built a sturdy career as an electric blues performer and assembled an impressive body of recorded work. At age 14 he drew performing inspiration from another Houston resident, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, while the distinctive approaches of Lone Star legends T-Bone Walker and Gatemouth Brown likewise shaped his style. Around 1953 his path intersected with Copeland’s; the pair alternated vocal and guitar roles in the Dukes of Rhythm. From 1958 to 1963 Hughes led the house band at the Houston blues club Shady’s Playhouse, occasionally cutting his own 45s such as “I Can’t Go on This Way,” “Ants in My Pants,” and “Shoe Shy.” In 1963 he joined the Upsetters on tour, moved to Bobby “Blue” Bland’s organization in 1965 (also appearing on Duke sides behind Bland), and worked with Al “TNT” Braggs between 1967 and 1969.
After an extended period away from the spotlight, Hughes resurfaced in 1989 with the well-received Black Top album If You Want to See These Blues, by which point he had adopted “Guitar” as his middle name in the manner of his longtime friend Watson. Subsequent releases included Texas Guitar Slinger (1996, Blueseye Blues), Down & Depressed: Dangerous (1997, Munich), and Stuff Like That (2001, Blues Express). These sets mixed blues and soul, occasionally featuring tightly arranged horn sections, while consistently spotlighting the guitar work that justified his chosen nickname. Fifty years after first taking up the blues, Joe “Guitar” Hughes died of a heart attack on May 20, 2003.
After an extended period away from the spotlight, Hughes resurfaced in 1989 with the well-received Black Top album If You Want to See These Blues, by which point he had adopted “Guitar” as his middle name in the manner of his longtime friend Watson. Subsequent releases included Texas Guitar Slinger (1996, Blueseye Blues), Down & Depressed: Dangerous (1997, Munich), and Stuff Like That (2001, Blues Express). These sets mixed blues and soul, occasionally featuring tightly arranged horn sections, while consistently spotlighting the guitar work that justified his chosen nickname. Fifty years after first taking up the blues, Joe “Guitar” Hughes died of a heart attack on May 20, 2003.
Albums