08/19/2026
**Our own LTD Presents LIVE David Hudson & Brady Kish backed blues legend John Primer in early August. This is from their KNKX Public Radio Studio Session. Thanks to Brenda Goldstein, Jody Levin and John Kessler with the whole KNKX crew for making this happen! Also, lots of love & respect to John Primer & Lisa Becker Primer for their friendship and real deal driving blues!**
https://youtu.be/5_xPBikyIWk?si=ysf3g5X9l7aV14RQ
John Primer is one of the last traditional blues players with a direct link to the original world of Chicago blues. He played guitar with some of the city’s best-known musicians, including Willie Dixon, Magic Slim and Muddy Waters, for whom he served as guitarist and bandleader from 1980 to 1983.
Primer has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. He’s made 17 albums of his own and has played on hundreds more.
His new album, Tribute to Theresa’s Lounge, honors the legendary Chicago blues club where he was bandleader for seven years during the 1970s, backing up virtually every blues artist in the city, including Junior Wells and James Cotton.
After delivering a romping four-song set, Primer said he feels like he was born to play the blues. He grew up in a family where virtually everyone played an instrument and sang. After studying recordings of Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters and other early blues stars, he developed his own blues sound.
Primer came to Chicago in 1963 at the age of 18, determined to break into the blues scene. He started playing for tips on the city's historic Maxwell Street, quickly earning the respect of the city’s blues community.
Dixon, a legendary blues producer and songwriter, hired Primer for his band, Chicago Blues All-Stars, and following his time with Muddy Waters, he toured the world with award-winning blues band Magic Slim and the Teardrops.
Primer learned many lessons working with these blues giants. Dixon, one of the most prolific songwriters in the blues, told him to always write down his song lyrics. Primer has written down over 200 songs.
Waters told him to keep it simple and to play with feeling, which is exactly what Primer did in this rousing electric blues session for KNKX.
Musicians:
* John Primer - vocals, guitar
* Steve Bell - harmonica
* Brady Kish - bass
* David Hudson - drums
Songs:
1. Hard Working Woman
2. 7 Nights for 7 Years
3. Hard Times
4. I Called My Baby

~ John Kessler
A professional bassist for over 20 years, John has been at KNKX since 1999 where he hosts All Blues on Saturday and Sunday nights. He was previously a senior producer of BirdNote for 19 years, and the primary recording engineer for hundreds of KNKX Studio Sessions.
John Primer is one of the last traditional blues players with a dir...
