# Jay Hooks > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jay_Hooks > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jay_Hooks.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Hooks > Source revision: 1324099882 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Houston), Texas, United States | death_date = | death_place = | instrument = Guitar, vocals | genre = [Texas blues](/source/Texas_blues), [electric blues](/source/electric_blues), [blues rock](/source/blues_rock) | occupation = Guitarist, singer, songwriter | years_active = Late mid 80s–present | label = Sunburst Records, [Provogue Records](/source/Provogue_Records) | associated_acts = | website = | honorific_prefix = | Wife = }} '''Jay Hooks''' (born November 12, 1967) is an American [Texas blues](/source/Texas_blues) and [electric blues](/source/electric_blues) guitarist, singer and songwriter. After gaining national exposure playing in [Lavelle White](/source/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](/source/Houston), Texas, United States. He found early musical inspiration from the recordings of fellow Texans [Albert Collins](/source/Albert_Collins), [Billy Gibbons](/source/Billy_Gibbons) and [Stevie Ray Vaughan](/source/Stevie_Ray_Vaughan). In the late 1980s, Hooks played in the bars of Houston, before being asked to play in [Lavelle White](/source/Lavelle_White)'s backing band. He played on her national tours in 1996,{{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}} before forming his own band and going solo the following year. In 1997, Hooks recorded his debut album, ''Hooked Up'', at [SugarHill Recording Studios](/source/SugarHill_Recording_Studios) in Houston.{{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}} [AllMusic](/source/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." 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](/source/Provogue_Records). The resulting self-titled album was made under the tutelage of record producer [Ben Elliott](/source/Ben_Elliott). ''Jay Hooks'' was recorded by the trio of Hooks (guitars, vocals), Marie Del Prete (bass) and Joe Frenchwood (drums).{{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](/source/All_About_Jazz)|date=October 2000 |access-date=April 8, 2018}} It was released in late 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jay-hooks-mn0000219574/biography|title=Jay Hooks – Biography & History – AllMusic|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|access-date=April 8, 2018}} His Texas rock sound was well received by the critics.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesrockers.ws/hooks.html|title=Jay Hooks – Blues Rockers|website=Bluesrockers.ws|access-date=April 8, 2018}} 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.{{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}} [Jerry Gaskill](/source/Jerry_Gaskill) played the drums on Hooks next release, the ''Red Line'' album (2002), which was also released by Provogue.{{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}} ''Red Line'' mostly contained songs written by Hooks, apart from his cover of [Jimi Hendrix](/source/Jimi_Hendrix)'s track, "[Freedom](/source/Freedom_(Jimi_Hendrix_song))".{{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}} In 2003, Hooks played live on the German television show, ''[Rockpalast](/source/Rockpalast)''.{{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}} Hooks performed at the Continental Club in [Austin, Texas](/source/Austin%2C_Texas) early in 2015.{{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](/source/YouTube)}} In April that year, he appeared at the [House of Blues](/source/House_of_Blues) in Houston.{{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}} In 2025, ''Tequila & Bullets'' was released on Joplin Street Music.{{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}} 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](/source/Provogue_Records) |- | 2002 || ''Red Line'' || style="text-align:center;"|Provogue Records |- | 2025 || ''Tequila & Bullets'' ||style="text-align:center;"|Joplin Street Music |- |}{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2854293-Jay-Hooks|title=Jay Hooks|website=Discogs.com|access-date=April 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jay-hooks-mn0000219574/discography|title=Jay Hooks – Album Discography – AllMusic|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|access-date=April 8, 2018}} ==See also== *[List of Texas blues musicians](/source/List_of_Texas_blues_musicians) *[List of electric blues musicians](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jay Hooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Hooks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Hooks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.