Singer-songwriter/guitarist Brant Buckley met his mentor and best friend Jesse Graves back in 2013. Jesse, whose real name was Michael Floyd, was Philadelphia’s premier bluesman during the 1970s who played with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Hound Dog Taylor, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, and Tom Waits. Jesse learned from Reverend Gary Davis and passed on what he knew to Brant, who also draws from a folk-blues background.
When Jesse passed away last December, Brant wanted to honor him with a song. So today he shares “Jookin,’” which takes its title from a 1972 Jesse Graves single. He’s made his own version with new music and lyrics.
Brant tells us:
For me, jookin’ is synonymous with the words jammin’ and rockin’. It’s an upbeat, fun, feel good song, and sounds great while driving. I kept the recording true to 1970s Jesse Graves with an acoustic guitar, resonator guitar, and vocal. Joe Tessone of Mystery Street Recording in Chicago mixed and mastered “Jookin’.”
Jesse was a spiritual person and moved to the sacred Black Hills in South Dakota to live out the rest of his life after I initially met him. His Lakota name was Wahacanka Luta which translates to Red Shield. I feel his presence now more than ever since he passed and he’s definitely still around in another form.
A week or so after he passed, I was on a walk in the woods, and I had a deep, profound spiritual experience with his spirit form. The whole sky filled up with his presence. I would describe it as a deep red coloration. I now see why he was given the name of Red Shield. It was a very powerful experience and I know he spiritually guided me through recording this track. I miss our daily phone conversations, but I’m happy he has moved on into the next world. He is in a much better place.
In 2014, inspired by Jesse, Brant moved to Chicago to learn more about the blues. While working as a tennis pro, Brant experienced the blues for himself after having a career-ending tennis injury. As a contributing author for American Blues Scene, Brant has over 100 published interviews/reviews. He’s interviewed George Thorogood, Grammy winner Dom Flemons, Jesse Graves, Dick Waterman, Bobby Rush, and John Hammond.
In addition to Brant’s new song, his forthcoming book Chicago Blues History: Preserving The Past will be available on Amazon this month. Stay tuned for details!
Related: Read Brant’s thoughtful obituary for Jesse
