{{Short description|American songwriter (born 1967)}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=November 2020}} {{Unreliable sources|date=November 2020}}}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jay Hooks | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Jay Hooks | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|11|12}} | birth_place = Houston, Texas, United States | death_date = | death_place = | instrument = Guitar, vocals | genre = Texas blues, electric blues, blues rock<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Discogs"/> | occupation = Guitarist, singer, songwriter | years_active = Late mid 80s–present | label = Sunburst Records, Provogue Records | associated_acts = | website = | honorific_prefix = | Wife = }}
'''Jay Hooks''' (born November 12, 1967) is an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.<ref name="AMG"/> After gaining national exposure playing in Lavelle White's backing ensemble, Hooks has released three albums to date, appeared on German television and undertaken various tours, including one in Europe.
==Life and career== Hooks was born in Houston, Texas, United States. He found early musical inspiration from the recordings of fellow Texans Albert Collins, Billy Gibbons and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In the late 1980s, Hooks played in the bars of Houston, before being asked to play in Lavelle White's backing band.<ref name="AMG"/> He played on her national tours in 1996,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.enternet.hu/progbluz/discography/Jay%20Hooks/Jay%20Hooks.html|title=Jay HOOKS|website=W3.enternet.hu|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> before forming his own band and going solo the following year.<ref name="AMG"/> In 1997, Hooks recorded his debut album, ''Hooked Up'', at SugarHill Recording Studios in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jay-Hooks-Hooked-Up/release/4078544|title=Jay Hooks – Hooked Up|website=Discogs.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> AllMusic noted that ''Hooked Up'' contained "a collection of gritty, rock-tinged electric blues numbers that didn't stray far outside the conventions that his aforementioned guitar heroes had brought into an international spotlight."<ref name="AMG"/>
The exposure the recording gave Hooks led to a European record executive, Ed van Zyl, offering Hooks a recording contract with the Dutch-based record label Provogue Records. The resulting self-titled album was made under the tutelage of record producer Ben Elliott. ''Jay Hooks'' was recorded by the trio of Hooks (guitars, vocals), Marie Del Prete (bass) and Joe Frenchwood (drums).<ref name="Allabout">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/jay-hooks-jay-hooks-provogue-review-by-ed-kopp.php|title=Jay Hooks: Jay Hooks|website=All About Jazz|date=October 2000 |access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> It was released in late 2000.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jay-hooks-mn0000219574/biography|title=Jay Hooks – Biography & History – AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> His Texas rock sound was well received by the critics.<ref name="NNN">{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesrockers.ws/hooks.html|title=Jay Hooks – Blues Rockers|website=Bluesrockers.ws|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> At the time Hooks was quoted as saying "... I just plug it in and turn it all up, that's what I do..." In 2001, Hooks toured across Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hooked-on-music.de/Interviews/Jay_Hooks/Interview_21_09_2001.html?band_id=2703&review_id=4218|title=Hooked on Music – Interviews – Jay Hooks|website=Hooked-on-music.de|access-date=April 8, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072226/http://www.hooked-on-music.de/Interviews/Jay_Hooks/Interview_21_09_2001.html?band_id=2703&review_id=4218|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Jerry Gaskill played the drums on Hooks next release, the ''Red Line'' album (2002), which was also released by Provogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnblues.com/cdreview/2004/jayhook-redline-rm.html|title=Jay Hooks CD Review|website=Mnblues.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> ''Red Line'' mostly contained songs written by Hooks, apart from his cover of Jimi Hendrix's track, "Freedom".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getreadytorock.com/reviews/jay_hooks1.htm|title=Get Ready to ROCK! Review of CD album by Jay Hooks called Red Line|website=Getreadytorock.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> In 2003, Hooks played live on the German television show, ''Rockpalast''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotburrito.nl/ency/bluesrock/jayhooks.html|title=Jay Hooks at Hotburrito's Bluesrockencyclopedia|website=Hotburrito.nl|access-date=April 8, 2018|archive-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409233514/http://www.hotburrito.nl/ency/bluesrock/jayhooks.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Hooks performed at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas early in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpmRdXlvLns|title=Jay Hooks – Live The Continental Club 2.7.2015|date=February 11, 2015|access-date=April 8, 2018|via=YouTube}}</ref> In April that year, he appeared at the House of Blues in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bandsintown.com/e/11543324|title=We Were Wolves @ House of Blues Houston|website=Bandsintown.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref>
In 2025, ''Tequila & Bullets'' was released on Joplin Street Music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makingascene.org/jay-hooks-tequila-and-bullets/|title=Jay Hooks: From Houston to International Fame|first=Richard|last=Ludmerer|website=Makingascene.org|date=September 17, 2025|access-date=September 19, 2025}}</ref> The album was produced by Matthew R. Johnson, and included the single releases of "Tequila & Bullets", "A Woman Like You", "Lonesome", and "Evinrude Boat Motor".
==Discography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year || Title || Record label |- | 1997 || ''Hooked Up'' || style="text-align:center;"|Sunburst Records |- | 2000 || ''Jay Hooks'' || style="text-align:center;"|Provogue Records |- | 2002 || ''Red Line'' || style="text-align:center;"|Provogue Records |- | 2025 || ''Tequila & Bullets'' ||style="text-align:center;"|Joplin Street Music |- |}<ref name="Discogs">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2854293-Jay-Hooks|title=Jay Hooks|website=Discogs.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jay-hooks-mn0000219574/discography|title=Jay Hooks – Album Discography – AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref>
==See also== *List of Texas blues musicians *List of electric blues musicians
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpmRdXlvLns Live video (2015)]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hooks, Jay}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:American blues guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:American blues singers Category:American male singers Category:American blues rock musicians Category:Electric blues musicians Category:Texas blues musicians Category:Musicians from Houston Category:Singers from Texas Category:Songwriters from Texas Category:Guitarists from Texas Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:21st-century American guitarists Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:American male songwriters Category:Provogue Records artists