Musician. Born Iverson Minter, he was a blues guitarist, harmonica player and singer, who recorded more than 50 albums. Before joining the US Army in 1949, he was a session player for Chess Records, Chicago Illinois. After leaving the Army, he recorded for Checker Records in 1952, billed as Rocky Fuller and played with John Lee Hooker in the late 1950s. His first self featured album "Lowdown Back Porch Blues" (1963), was recorded in New York, followed by "Seventh Son" (1963). In 1964, he had a sting of single hits on the US Billborad such as "I'm Too Poor to Die" and "Cashbox". He maintained a busy recording and performing schedule through the 1970s, having done sessions for Chess, Checker, Atlantic and Blue Labor, with albums to include "Shouts the Blues" (1970), "Louisiana Red Sings" (1972), "Sweet Blood Call" (1975) and "New York Blues" (1979). In 1983, he received the W C Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist for his albums "Boy from Black Bayou" (1983) and "Blues from the Heart" (1983). He also appeared in feature films such as "Comeback" (1982), "Ballhaus Barmbek" (1988), "Red and Blues" (2005) and "Family Meeting" (2008). In 2010, he was honored with the Blues Music Award as Acoustic Artist of the Year and for Acoustic Album of the Year, with his album "You Got to Move". His last album "Memphis Mojo" (2011), was released to broad public acclaim prior to his death from a stroke at age 79.
Musician. Born Iverson Minter, he was a blues guitarist, harmonica player and singer, who recorded more than 50 albums. Before joining the US Army in 1949, he was a session player for Chess Records, Chicago Illinois. After leaving the Army, he recorded for Checker Records in 1952, billed as Rocky Fuller and played with John Lee Hooker in the late 1950s. His first self featured album "Lowdown Back Porch Blues" (1963), was recorded in New York, followed by "Seventh Son" (1963). In 1964, he had a sting of single hits on the US Billborad such as "I'm Too Poor to Die" and "Cashbox". He maintained a busy recording and performing schedule through the 1970s, having done sessions for Chess, Checker, Atlantic and Blue Labor, with albums to include "Shouts the Blues" (1970), "Louisiana Red Sings" (1972), "Sweet Blood Call" (1975) and "New York Blues" (1979). In 1983, he received the W C Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist for his albums "Boy from Black Bayou" (1983) and "Blues from the Heart" (1983). He also appeared in feature films such as "Comeback" (1982), "Ballhaus Barmbek" (1988), "Red and Blues" (2005) and "Family Meeting" (2008). In 2010, he was honored with the Blues Music Award as Acoustic Artist of the Year and for Acoustic Album of the Year, with his album "You Got to Move". His last album "Memphis Mojo" (2011), was released to broad public acclaim prior to his death from a stroke at age 79.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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