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Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: John Lee Hooker

11/06/1995

John Lee Hooker

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, John Lee Hooker

Sue Lawley's castaway is bluesman John Lee Hooker

Sue Lawley's castaway is bluesman John Lee Hooker.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is one of the oldest and deepest voices in rock music - the legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker. The son of a preacher man, he was brought up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and his first guitar was made from an old inner tube tied to the barn door. By the age of 14, he had his own guitar and ran away to Memphis with two dollars in his pocket for a life touring small blues clubs.

With hits like Boom Boom, Dimples and Boogie Chillun, he has been one of the major influences on rock stars like Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] 

Favourite track: Goin Down Slow by B.B. King & Bobby Bland
Book: A book with pictures (of pretty women)
Luxury: His guitar

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Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

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