Junior Wells loved dogs. Jasmine, a cockapoo-sheltie-poodle mix,
loved to sing the blues to the sound of the blues harp. My husband,
at the time, was a tremendous blues harp player and vocalist. Blues
played constantly in our house and sometimes he would practice things
on harp. We had 2 dogs, Baklava and her daughter Jasmine. Jasmine
became infatuated wtih the sound of the harmonica. Whether it was one
of us picking up the harp or eventually the sound from the speakers,
Jasmine was right there ready to "howl" the blues. She got so into it
that all it took was the hands to the mouth, it didn't matter if there
was a harmonica there or not.
While we lived for awhile in Champaign, Illinois (about 150 miles
south of Chicago), Junior and his band were playing in town. It was
1974. We had already known Junior from Chicago where they used to
trade licks frequentlyy in clubs like Theresa's. We went to see them
and invited Junior and the band for BBQ the next day. Everyone knew
that some jamin' would occur, but Junior never expected the trio to
include Jasmine. Junior flipped over her and was even more amazed
that she was 'howlin' on key and enjoying it so much.
A year or so later, back in Chicago, Junior had me bring Jasmine to
Theresa's (the famous basement club on the corner of 48th and Indiana
on Chicago's south side). Junior called T's his 2nd home. He had me
bring Jasmine up to the stage and "howl" along with him. What a
performance! Where were the amazing dog stories or videos then?
I had forgotten all about this until just about a year ago. I was
having a long telephone conversation with Junior over past memories
and past friendships we both shared and both lost, when he mentioned
my singing dog. I truly didn't remember her "professional debut" at
T's. His memory of it was so vivid; we both laughed and laughed. I
wonder now why we didn't market this, but then in 1975, things were
very different and very casual.
POST-SCRIPT:
Jasmine went on to live with my soon to be ex-husband and finish out
her days in Northern California. My ex-husband is now remarried and
heading up a San Francisco area jazz band, playing saxophone, having
left the blues behind. Junior is now fighting an ugly battle for his
life. I'm in South Florida still immersed and dabbling in the music I
love the best - BLUES. Everything changes and everything passes.
gloria pierce
E-Mail: gpierce@ransomeverglades.org
or
glpierce@ix.netcom.com
E-mail Ray Stiles at: 