19 Facts About Johnny Shines

John Ned Shines was an American blues singer and guitarist.

Johnny Shines was born in Frayser, Tennessee, today a neighborhood of Memphis.

Johnny Shines was taught to play the guitar by his mother and spent most of his childhood in Memphis, playing slide guitar at an early age in juke joints and on the street.

Johnny Shines moved to Hughes, Arkansas, in 1932 and worked on farms for three years, putting aside his music career.

In 1935, Johnny Shines began traveling with Johnson, touring in the United States and Canada.

Johnny Shines played throughout the southern United States until 1941, when he settled in Chicago.

Johnny Shines made his first recording in 1946 for Columbia Records, but the takes were never released.

Johnny Shines recorded for Chess Records in 1950, but again no records were released.

Johnny Shines kept playing with blues musicians in the Chicago area for several more years.

Johnny Shines toured with the Chicago All Stars alongside Lee Jackson, Big Walter Horton and Willie Dixon.

Johnny Shines moved to Holt, Alabama, in Tuscaloosa County, in 1969.

Johnny Shines played there on several occasions and brought his friend, blues artist Mississippi Fred McDowell, to perform with him.

Johnny Shines continued to play the international blues circuit while living in Holt.

In 1980, Johnny Shines's career was brought to a standstill when he suffered a stroke.

Johnny Shines later appeared and played in the 1991 documentary The Search for Robert Johnson.

In 1989, Johnny Shines met Kent DuChaine, and the two of them toured for the next several years, until Johnny Shines's death.

Johnny Shines was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame later the same year.

Johnny Shines was that rare being, a blues artist who overcame age and rustiness to make music that stood up beside the work of his youth.

When Johnny Shines came back to the blues in 1965 he was 50, yet his voice had the leonine power of a dozen years before, when he made records his reputation was based on.