TIMELINE: AWARDS & DISCOGRAPHY
AWARDS & HISTORY
1945: Born on March 5th, in Camden, Mississippi
1963: Migrated to Chicago and started his own band called The Maintainers
1964: Performed on Sunday's at Maxwell Street with Pat Rushing
1964: Played west side clubs like The Place, The Bow Tie, Club 312 and Lovers Lounge
1968: Left The Maintainers and fronted the soul and R&B group, The Brotherhood Band
1974: Replaced John Watkins in the house band at the famous Theresa's Lounge on the south side of Chicago where he played 7 nights a week for 7 years. His biggest inspirations were Muddy Waters' former sideman, Sammy Lawhorn, who taught him to play slide guitar and harmonica ace Junior Wells
1979: He joined Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars and traveled to Mexico on tour, leaving the USA for the first time
1979: John's dream came true when he became the bandleader for Muddy Water's band until Muddy's death in 1983
1982: Recorded for the 1st time with Big Voice Odem - FEEL SO GOOD on Isabel Records.
1982: John recorded with Willie Buck on his - I Wanna Be Loved album.
1983: John joined Magic Slim & The Teardrops traveling all over the world. They were the first band to bring blues to Brazil. John stayed a Teardrop for the next thirteen years. This band was known as the best blues band in the world. They created the Chicago Lump Style.
1983: John recorded on Little Milton's - The Blues is Alright album on Isabel Records
1984: John recorded on Valerie Wellington's - MILLION DOLLAR SECRET on Roster Blues Records
1986: John recorded on Magic Slim & The Teardrops Chicago Blues Sessions Volume 3 on Wolf Records with Nate Applewhite. Recorded live at Wise Fools club in Chicago, IL
1987: WON! W.C. Handy Award for: Traditional Blues Album, Magic Slim & The Teardrops Chicago Blues Sessions Volume 3, Wolf Records. Recorded live at Wise Fools Night Club in Chicago by Hannes Folterbauer
1987: John recorded on Magic Slim LIVE at B.L.U.E.S.
1987: John recorded with Alabama Jr. Pettis & The Teardrops - CHICAGO BLUES SESSION VOLUME 4 on Wolf Records
1987: Recorded with James Cotton on his Take Me Back record on Blind Pig. The band members were: Sammy Lawhorn, Sam Lay, Bob Anderson and Pinetop Perkins
1989: John recorded on the AC Reed & Big Wheeler - BLUES SESSION VOL. 14 on Wolf Records
1989: John recorded on the John Brim and Pinetop Perkins (CHICAGO BLUES SESSIONS VOLUME 12) on Wolf Records
1989: John recorded on Magic Slim and Nick Holt and The Teardrops Chicago Blues Session Vol. 10 on Wolf Records
1990: WON! W.C. Handy Award for: Band of the Year with Magic Slim & The Teardrops
1991: John recorded on John LittleJohn's - Blues Party album on Wolf Records
1991: WON! W.C. Handy Award for: Band of the Year with Magic Slim & The Teardrops
1991: Recorded Poor Man Blues CD, first solo recording on Wolf Records
1991: Recorded STUFF YOU GOTTA WATCH on Earwig Records. This is John's solo recording on a USA record label.
1992: Recorded on Lester Davenport's - WHEN THE BLUES HITS YOU on Earwig Records.
1995: Released first solo recording on a major record label, The Real Deal CD, Atlantic/Code Blue Records, Produced by Mike Vernon, Recorded & Mixed by Michael Freeman
1995: John went out on his own and formed The Real Deal Blues Band
1997: W.C. Handy Awards Nominee for: Traditional Blues Album, Atlantic/Code Blue Records, Produced by Mike Vernon, Recorded & Mixed by Michael Freeman
1997: Given the Theresa Needham Blues Award for outstanding service to the blues community by the Theresa Needham Blues Center
2009: WON! the Blewzzy Award for Best CD of the Year: All Original, Blues House Productions
2009: WON! The Blues Blast Award for Best Traditional Blues Recording: All Original , Blues House Productions
2010: WON! The Living Blues Award for: Blues Artist of the Year (Male)
2010: 53rd Grammy Awards® Nominated for: Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year- Chicago Blues: A Living History CD, Raisin Music, Produced by Larry Skoller
2010: 53rd Grammy® Award: Officially Recognized for participating as GUITARIST on the Grammy® Award- winning recording: Joined at The Hip (Pinetop Perkins & Willie Big Eyes Smith) for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year, Telarc Records, Produced by Michael Freeman
2010: WON! The Blues Music Award for: Album of the Year with Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch and Lurrie Bell for the Chicago Blues: A Living History CD, Raisin Music, Produced by Larry Skoller
2010: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Album of the Year with Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch and Lurrie Bell for the Chicago Blues: A Living History CD, Raisin Music, Produced by Larry Skoller
2010: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Album of the Year for the All Original CD, Blues House Productions, Produced by John Primer, Co-Produced by Lisa B. Primer
2010: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
2012: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Album of the Year for the Chicago Blues: A Living History, The Revolution Continues CD, Raisin Music, Produced by Larry Skoller
2012: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Album of the Year for the Chicago Blues: A Living History, The Revolution Continues CD with Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, Lurrie Bell, Magic Slim, Carlos Johnson, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Zora Young and Mike Avery on Raisin Music, Produced by Larry Skoller
2012: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Artist of the Year
2013: Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society
2013: Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the Pennsylvania Blues Society
2013: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Best Acoustic Album of the Year for the Blues on Solid Ground CD, Blues House Production, Produced by John Primer, Co-Produced by Lisa B. Primer
2013: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
2013: Appeared in the Blues Music Award's Best DVD of the Year: Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones
2014: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Male Artist
2014: Living Blues Award Nominee for: The Best Acoustic Album of the Year, Knockin' Around These Blues CD with Bob Corritore, Delta Grove Records
2015: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
2016: 58th Grammy Awards® Nominee for: The Muddy Waters 100 album, recorded by Primer and various other artists, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016 for Best Blues Album
2016: WON! The Blues Music Award for: Traditional Blues Male Artist
2017: Blues Blast Award Nominee for: Best Acoustic Album of the Year, for the Nothing You Can Do! CD with Bob Corritore, Delta Groove Records
2017: Inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame: John was inducted at the LEGENDARY BLUES ARTIST LEVEL by the Blues Hall of Fame, an American Heritage International Organization
2017: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year 2018: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
2019: Living Blues Award Nominee for: Most Outstanding Musician on Guitar
2019: WON! The Blues Blast Award for: Soul Blues Album of the Year, The Soul of a Blues Man CD, Blues House Productions, Produced by Feliz Reyes, Co- Produced by Lisa B. Primer
2019: WON! The Blues Blast Award for: Male Blues Artist of the Year
2020: Blues Music Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
2020: Living Blues Award Nominee for: Most Outstanding Musician on Guitar and Blues Artist of the Year
2020: Blues Blast Award Nominee for: Traditional Blues Album, The Gypsy Woman Told Me CD with Bob Corritore, VizzTone
2021: LIVING BLUES AWARD Nominee for: MALE ARTIST, LIVE PERFORMER, BEST GUITARIST & BEST ALBUM: THE GYPSY WOMAN TOLD ME with Bob Corritore
2021: WON! LIVING BLUES AWARD for: BEST BLUES ALUBM: THE GYPSY WOMAN TOLD ME with Bob Corritore on Vizztone Label Group
2021: WON! BLUES MUSIC AWARD for: TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
2023: WON! LIVING BLUES AWARD for BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Critics Poll)
2023: WON! BLUES BLAST AWARDS for Live Album of the Year - Teardrops for Magic Slim, Live at Rosa's Lounge and Traditional Blues Album of the Year - Hard Times.
2023: John was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from Blues Blast Magazine
2023: WON! BLUES MUSIC AWARD for TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR and Nominated for TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Hard Times
2023: INDUCTED INTO THE BLUES HALL OF FAME
2023: GRAMMY® NOMINATED for - Traditional Blues Album - Teardrops for Magic Slim, Live at Rosa's Lounge
2024: WON! BLUES BLAST AWARDS for - Traditional Blues Album of the Year - Crawlin' Kingsnake with Bob Corritore on the Vizztone Label Group and Historical or Vintage Recording of the Year - Slow Blues with Magic Slim and the Teardrops on Wolf Records
2025: WON! BLUES MUSIC AWARD for: TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Crawlin' Kingsnake with Bob Corritore.
2025: WON! BLUES MUSIC AWARD for: TRADITIONAL BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR
2025: LIVING BLUES AWARD Nominee for: BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR (MALE), MOST OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN-GUITAR, and BEST BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR-Crawlin' Kingsnake with Bob Corritore.
2025: BLUES BLAST AWARD NOMINEE for: TRADITIONAL BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR, TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR-Grown in Mississippi, ACOUSTIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR-Ten Chicago Blues Classics with Giles Robson and SLIDE GUITARIST OF THE YEAR.
DISCOGRAPHY & AWARDS
1982: Feel So Good, Big Voice Odom (Isabel Records) with Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Little Milton & Lucky Peterson
1983: The Blues is Alright, Little Milton (Isabel Records) with Lucky Peterson & The Teardrops
1986: Magic Slim & The Teardrops Chicago Sessions Volume 3 (Wolf Records) with Nate Applewhite *W.C Handy winner
1987: Take Me Back, James Cotton (Blind Pig Records) with Sam Lay, Sammy Lawhorn & Bob Anderson
1990: Gravel Road (Blind Pig Records) with Magic Slim, Nick Holt & Earl Howell
1991: 1st solo recording, Poor Man Blues (Wolf Records) with Magic Slim and Billy Branch
1992 : Stuff You Got to Watch (Earwig Music)
1992: 44 Blues by Magic Slim & The Teardrops (Wolf Records) with Bonnie Lee
1993: Blues Behind Closed Doors (Wolf Records) with Magic Slim and Billy Branch
1994: Cold Blooded Blues Man (Wolf Records)
1995: The Real Deal (Atlantic/Code Blue) with Billy Branch, David Maxwell, Jake Dawson, J. B. Gayden & Earl Howell
1997: Keep on Lovin' the Blues (Atlantic/Code Blue - released in Europe) with Matthew Skoller & Dave Maxwell
1997: Easy Baby, The Zoo Bar Collection Volume 6 (Wolf Records) with Nick Holt & Michael Scott - The Teardrops
1998: It's a Blues Life (Wolf Records)
1999 : Knocking at Your Door (Telarc) with Larry McCray and Matthew Skoller
2001: Blues From The Deep South (Blues Special Records) Live CD with Adrian Flores & The Blues Special Band
2003 : Blue Steel: A Tribute to Elmore James (Wolf Records) (cover album of Elmore James songs)
2008: All Original (Blues House Productions)
2012: Call Me John Primer (Wolf Records)
2012: Blues On Solid Ground (Blues House Productions)
2013 : Knockin' Around These Blues (Delta Groove Music) and Bob Corritore
2014: John Primer & The Teardrops – Live – You Can Make It If You Try (Wolf Records)
2016: John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band – Live – That Will Never Do (Wolf Records)
2017: Ain't Nothing You Can Do! (Delta Groove Music) and Bob Corritore
2019: The Soul of a Blues Man (Blues House Productions) with Steve Bell & Billy Flynn *Blues Blast Award winner for Soul Blues Album of the Year
2020: The Gypsy Woman Told Me (VizzTone) and Bob Corritore *Living Blues Magazine Award winner for Traditional Blues Album of the Year
2021: WON! Blues Music Award for: TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR!
2022: Hard Times (Blues House Productions) with Steve Bell, Rick Kreher, Johnny Iguana, Lenny Media, David Forte, & Aliya Primer *Blues Blast winner for Traditional Blues Album of the Year!
2023: Live at Rosa's Lounge, Teardrops for Magic Slim (Blues House Productions) with Jon McDonald, Earl Howell, Danny O'Connor & Lenny Media.
2023: WON! Blues Blast Awards for: TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Hard Times (BHP) & LIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Teardrops for Magic Slim (BHP).
2023: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from Blues Blast Magazine
2023: INDUCTED INTO THE BLUES HALL OF FAME by the National Blues Foundation
2023: GRAMMY® NOMINATED for Teardrops for Magic Slim (BHP)
2023: Slow Blues with Magic Slim (Wolf Records). Vintage album recorded mostly live with many different musicians back in the 1990's
2024: Crawlin' Kingsnake (Vizztone) with Bob Corritore, Bob Stroger, Jimi "Primetime" Smith, Anthony Geraci & Wes Starr. *Blues Blast Award winner for: Traditional Blues Album
2024: WON! Blues Music Award for: TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR and TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Teardrops for Magic Slim, BHP).
2024: WON! Blues Blast Magazine Award for: HISTORICAL OR VINTAGE RECORDING - Slow Blues with Magic Slim (Wolf Records)
2024: WON! Blues Blast Magazine Award for: TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Crawlin' Kingsnake with Bob Corritore (Vizztone)
2024: WON! Blues Music Award for: TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Teardrops for Magic Slim
2024: WON! Blues Music Award for: TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
2024: Giles Robson & John Primer's Ten Chicago Blues Classic's (Blues House Productions). John & Giles duo acoustic album.
2025: WON! Blues Music Award for: TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
2025: WON! Blues Music Award for: TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Crawlin' Kingsnake with Bob Corritore