Biography
5 March 1945, Camden, Mississippi, USA. Primer recalls hearing the music of Muddy Waters as a youngster, and he played a one-string instrument before moving to Chicago in 1963 and acquiring a guitar. He initially played in Jimmy Reed’s style. He began to take music more seriously around 1973 and played at the famed Chicago club Theresa’s (1974-80), usually with Sammy Lawhorn, who gave Primer many tips on playing blues guitar. In the early 80s he was a member of the Muddy Waters band, and after Waters’ death he replaced ‘Alabama’ Junior Pettis as second guitarist in Magic Slim’s band the Teardrops. Slim allows his accompanist some of the spotlight, and Primer has recorded for Austrian label Wolf; he is highly rated for his pure blues playing (particularly slide guitar) and singing. In recent years he has been very prolific in touring and recording. Primer is a worthy standard-bearer of the old Chicago blues traditions.
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