John Mooney

by Cub Koda & Stephen Thomas ErlewineJohn Mooney is a slide guitarist, working primarily in a traditionalist Delta acoustic style. Originally hailing from Rochester, NY, Mooney learned his craft first hand from country blues legend Son House. Later in his career, he moved to New Orleans, switched to electric guitar and began enlivening his music with Second Line rhythms indigenous to the area.Born in New Jersey but raised in Rochester, New York, John Mooney began playing guitar following a meeting with Son House, who also lived in Rochester. Mooney learned the basics of blues guitar from House and he returned the favor by supporting the guitarist during the mid-70s. In 1976, Mooney relocated to New Orleans and within a year of his arrival, he landed a contract with Blind Pig. In 1977, he released his debut album, Comin Your Way.After performing straight acoustic Delta blues for several years, Mooney changed his musical direction in 1983, when he formed Bluesiana, a more eclectic — and electric — outfit. Throughout the 80s, he toured and recorded with Bluesiana, opening for the likes of Albert King, Bonnie Raitt, and Clarence Gatemouth Brown. After a few years of touring, Mooney was able to sign another record contract, releasing Telephone King on the Powerhouse label in 1991. His next records were one-offs on small labels: 1992s Testimony for Domino and 1995s ravelin On on Crosscut. Mooney toured consistently at this time, building his fan base one blues club at a time. His hard work paid off when in 1996 he signed up with the House of Blues label and released his first nationally distributed record Against the Wall. This deal turned out to be a one-off as well but after releasing a live solo album for Ruf in 1997, Mooney returned to Blind Pig to release 2000s Gone to Hell and 2002s All I Want. Both albums are solid additions to Mooneys discography.