John Hammond, Jr.
| John P. Hammond | |
|---|---|
Hammond performing at the Cactus Cafe, Austin, Texas, 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Paul Hammond |
| Born |
November 13, 1942 New York City |
| Genres | Blues, rock, barrelhouse |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, harmonica |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Labels | Vanguard, Water Music, Columbia, Rounder, Flying Fish, Point Blank, Back Porch, Chesky, Palmetto |
| Website | www |
John Paul Hammond (born November 13, 1942, New York City) is an American blues singer and guitarist. The son of record producer John H. Hammond, he is sometimes referred to as John Hammond, Jr..
Hammond is a son of the famed record producer and talent scout John Henry Hammond, Jr. and his first wife, Jemison McBride, an actress. He is a descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the patriarch of the prominent Vanderbilt family. He has a brother, Jason, and a stepsister, (Esme) Rosita Sarnoff, the daughter of his father's second wife, Esme O'Brien Sarnoff. Hammond's middle name, Paul, is in honor of a friend of his father, the actor Paul Robeson. The younger Hammond was raised by his mother and saw his father only a few times a year while growing up.
He began playing guitar in high school, partially inspired by the album Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall. He attended Antioch College for one year but dropped out to pursue a music career. By the mid-1960s he was touring nationally and living in Greenwich Village. He befriended and recorded with many electric blues musicians in New York, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, the Hawks (later known as the Band), Dr. John and Duane Allman.
Hammond usually plays acoustically, choosing National Reso-Phonic Guitars, and sings in a barrelhouse style. Since 1962, when he made his debut on Vanguard Records, he has made thirty-four albums. In the 1990s he began recording on the Point Blank Records label. Hammond has earned one Grammy Award and been nominated for four others. He also provided the soundtrack for the 1970 film Little Big Man, starring Dustin Hoffman.
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