Lenoir's guitar-playing father introduced him to the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, whose music became a major influence. During the early 1940s, Lenoir worked with blues artists Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James in New Orleans. Lenoir would eventually find musical influence in Arthur Crudup and Lightnin' Hopkins.
In 1949, he moved to Chicago and Big Bill Broonzy helped introduce him to the local blues community. He began to perform at local nightclubs with musicians such as Memphis Minnie, Big Maceo Merriweather, and Muddy Waters, and became an important part of the city's blues scene. He began recording in 1951 the J.O.B. and Chess Records labels. His recording of "Korea Blues" was licensed to and released by Chess, as having been performed by 'J. B. and his Bayou Boys'. His band included pianist Sunnyland Slim, guitarist Leroy Foster, and drummer Alfred Wallace.
During the 1950s Lenoir recorded on various record labels in the Chicago area including J.O.B., Chess, Parrot, and Checker. His more successful songs included "Let's Roll", "The Mojo" featuring saxophonist J. T. Brown, and the controversial "Eisenhower Blues" which his record company, Parrot, forced him to re-record as "Tax Paying Blues."
Lenoir was known in the 1950s for his showmanship - in particular his zebra-patterned costumes - and his high-pitched vocals. He became an influential electric guitarist and songwriter, and his penchant for social commentary distinguished him from many other bluesmen of the time. His most commercially successful and enduring release was "Mamma Talk To Your Daughter", recorded for Parrot in 1954 which reached #11 on the Billboard R&B chart and was later recorded by many other blues and rock musicians. In the later 1950s (recording on the Checker label), he wrote several more blues standards including; "Don't Dog Your Woman", and "Don't Touch My Head!!!" (1956).
In 1963, Lenoir recorded for USA Records as 'J. B. Lenoir and his African Hunch Rhythm', developing an interest in African percussion. However, he struggled to work as a professional musician and for a time took menial jobs, including working in the kitchen at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Lenoir was rediscovered by Willie Dixon, who recorded him with drummer Fred Below on the albums Alabama Blues and Down In Mississippi (inspired by the Civil Rights and Free Speech movements). Lenoir toured Europe, and performed in 1965 with the American Folk Blues Festival in the United Kingdom.
Lenoir's work had direct political content relating to racism and the Vietnam War.
"Alabama Blues"
“I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
You know they killed my sister and my brother,
And the whole world let them peoples go down there free.”
He died on April 29, 1967 in Urbana, Illinois, aged 38, from a heart attack related to injuries he suffered in a car accident three weeks earlier.
His death was lamented by John Mayall in the songs, "I'm Gonna Fight for You, J.B." and "Death of J. B. Lenoir".
The 2003 documentary film The Soul of a Man, directed by Wim Wenders as the second instalment of Martin Scorsese's series The Blues, explored Lenoir's career, together with those of Skip James and Blind Willie Johnson.
In 2011, Lenoir was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Although his name is sometimes mispronounced like the French "lan WAH", Lenoir himself pronounced his name a "la NOR". The initials "J.B." had no specific meaning; his given name was simply "J.B."
GOD
J.B. Lenoir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you give me an appointment
Been so long since I've had a check up
Can you squeeze me in today ?
Doctor God, oh Doctor God
I know there's a long line waiting
Emergency situation
Doctor God
Now I have come to seek the prophet, yeah
Oh
Can you tell me is he in today
Show me to the man with the healing hands
And tell him to come and take me by my hand
Don't you know I need, I need the Doctor,
Right away
Doctor God, Doctor God
Can you forgive me for the way I've been living
Taking more than giving
I'm just tired of living this way
Doctor God, Oh Doctor God
Show me that road to salvation
And lead me away from temptation
And close the door to hate
Oh, Doctor God
The lyrics to J.B. Lenoir's song "God" can be interpreted as a plea to God for help and guidance. The persona in the song is in need of a spiritual check-up and is asking to be seen by Doctor God. Despite the long line and emergency situations, the persona in the song is in desperate need of help and wants to be seen right away. The persona is aware of their mistakes and needs forgiveness from God for their past transgressions. They want to be led down the right path and away from temptation and hate. The persona believes that God is their only hope for salvation and they are seeking guidance from a prophet as well.
Overall, the song can be seen as a reflection of the struggles and difficulties that people face in life. It highlights the importance of faith and spirituality in finding one's way and overcoming obstacles. The lyrics also showcase how important it is to seek guidance and help when faced with difficult situations, and how faith can act as a source of strength and comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Doctor God, Doctor God
Addressing God, asking for attention
Won't you give me an appointment
Asking for a chance to speak to God, requesting time
Been so long since I've had a check up
Expressing neglect in spiritual matters for a long time
Can you squeeze me in today ?
Requesting God to make time for him that day itself
I know there's a long line waiting
Acknowledging that many people are waiting for God's attention
Emergency situation
Describing a crucial and pressing need
And I need you
Expressing the importance of God's help
Now I have come to seek the prophet, yeah
Referring to the desire to seek a holy and pious person
Can you tell me is he in today
Inquiring if the prophet is available for consultation
Show me to the man with the healing hands
Requesting to be guided to the person who can cure him
And tell him to come and take me by my hand
Asking that the holy person physically guide him
Don't you know I need, I need the Doctor, Right away
Expressing urgency and importance of needing help as soon as possible
Can you forgive me for the way I've been living
Requesting for forgiveness for past wrongdoings
Taking more than giving
Acknowledge a pattern of selfishness
I'm just tired of living this way
Expressing a desire to change the way of life
Show me that road to salvation
Asking for guidance on how to become a better person
And lead me away from temptation
Requesting for help to stay away from bad influences
And close the door to hate
Asking for support to reject negative emotions
Oh, Doctor God
Addressing God and expressing complete faith in Him
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: DAN PENN, JERRY MCGILL, JOHNNY CHRISTOPHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidteissier5704
Just one of the best Blues album of all time ❤️❤️❤️❤️👌👌👌👌
@karthdinkler9924
JBL is too beautiful for words. And the photographs here -- the one of the tear running down the child's cheek. The pain in this world is NOT acceptable. No way, no way.
@manlypedro75
I was saved by this song.
@coravisser727
Respect for this blues music it is real legend and it is beautifull.
@williamv2048
yeah baby... got the blues!!!!
@carvalhorogeriode
Muito bom gostei mostra uma realidade da época.
@PrincessRadojka
Excellent. Bravo pour cette video et un grand merci pour le partage :-)
@BackToTheBlues
Lovely - JB's sparse guitarwork on this one reminds me of the tracks blues pianist Curtis Jones recorded on guitar for his Blue Horizon LP 'Now Resident In Europe'.
@boballen9835
1.16.18. sometimes I get caught up in JB's music for days.
@tantocomoaqueldia
thanks for this beatiful song.its very nice