Interview with Rev. John Lee Hooker Jr.: A Story of Redemption and Faith
Betsy had the incredible honor of interviewing Rev. John Lee Hooker Jr.
As the son of the legendary John Lee Hooker, Rev. John Lee Hooker Jr. grew up immersed in the blues, even touring with his father as a featured attraction during his teenage years. However, he didn’t just follow in his father’s footsteps—he carved out a successful music career of his own.
His 2004 album, Blues with a Vengeance, was nominated for a Grammy Award and won the W.C. Handy Award for Debut Artist. His third album, All Odds Against Me (2008), also received a Grammy nomination.
Beyond music, Rev. John is an author, sharing his powerful life story in his book:
📖 From the Shadow of the Blues: My Story of Music, Addiction, and Redemption (co-written with Julia Simon)
A Story of Struggles, Redemption, and Faith
In our inspiring conversation, Rev. John opened up about:
✔️ Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, with a famous father
✔️ Facing challenges as a teenager and young adult, including his parents’ divorce
✔️ Battling drug addiction, being a con man, and serving time in prison
✔️ Surviving being stabbed, shot, and injecting drugs into his neck
✔️ Reaching a turning point where he desperately wanted to change
One of the most powerful moments he shared was his experience performing at Soledad Prison as a teenager with his father—only to return years later as an inmate. An employee recognized him from his past performance and even had a photo of young Rev. John performing with his father. Years later, he returned again—this time as a minister, preaching the Gospel to Soledad inmates.
Rev. John also recounted how he found salvation while in Santa Rita Jail, where he heard Missionary Yancy give an invitation to accept Jesus Christ. After struggling and failing many times, he finally surrendered his life completely to God.
From Blues to Gospel: A New Purpose
Rev. John spoke about his journey from blues to Gospel music, including his experience praying with Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. Today, he uses his testimony to spread the Gospel through music and ministry, sharing his story in prisons across Germany and the United States.
We also discussed his YouTube channel, his experiences creating music videos, and how his music continues to inspire people worldwide.
A Must-Read Story of Transformation
Betsy highly recommend reading From the Shadow of the Blues—a story of grit, perseverance, and faith. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can rise again with determination and God’s grace.
📖 Order the book here:
🔗 Rev. John Lee Hooker Jr.’s Website
🔗 Amazon
🎵 Check out his music & videos:
🔗 YouTube Channel
Exciting news—a new album is coming this June! Stay tuned! 🎶✨
📌📌 Listen to the audio commentary with Betsy Wurzel and Rev. John Lee Hooker Jr.: 📌📌 Click here to listen…
Contact Information
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Group Facebook Page Facebook
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