This Saturday August 9th at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, Music on the Grill will conclude with Zakiya Hooker, a talented, accomplished blues musician who recalls the style and soul of her father, John Lee Hooker, with a soothing, sophisticated and romantic vocals that is all her own. For almost 7 years, Music on the Grill has given Coquitlam residents; lovers or great entertainment a chance to relax, enjoy the summer breeze and feast on great barbecue with some of the world’s most accomplished musicians in blues, folk, jazz and country. The final night of this season’s series is sure to be one of it’s best, so be sure to get your tickets while you can!
Shifting from blues to folk and country and back again, the series concludes with a turn to traditional blues passed down by one generation’s blues legend to another. Zakiya Hooker’s passionate, soulful style is both personal and soothing, as unique as it is rich. Birthed out of the traditional blues her father was famous for, Zakiya has evolved her music, performing with legendary artists around the world. It’s safe to say that she truly has “earned the right to sing the blues,” (Contra Costa Times) and has blossomed into one of blues most talented and experienced performers. Along with Chris James, another talented musician that mentored and coached Zakiya, guests are in for a real treat as they rediscover the magic of the Blues. We spoke with Zakiya on the phone about her career, her upcoming album and seizing her passion for music.
On the beginnings of her music career…
For 28 years I worked for the Superior Court of California. I had three children to raise, but I also had a day job. I was a manager for the State of California, for the Superior Court. I was a Jury Master. And I also did my music while I did that. Because I was a manager and I’d been there for so long I had a lot of time that I could take off. So they’d schedule me, (the Talent Agent & Manager) they would call and say hey, we got your dates and I would set that up and go on my gigs, then come back to work.
On meeting her husband and focusing on the music…
Basically I started focusing really [on the music] around 1987 and that’s when I met Chris, Chris James [aka Ollan C. Bell]. And he had been, he was into music already because he had been with the MOTOWN label, he’d been on ABC/Dunhill [Record Label]. His group [The Natural Four] had had the Gold Record and everything. So, when I met him he was working with his children. And I was doing background and he realized I could sing. We started talking about it and I said this is what I’d like to do; so he started to work with me. And because I was new to California I didn’t really know a lot of people in the music scene, where as he knew everybody in the music scene. And so he put a band together, he was also my vocal coach. And then in 1991, my first performance was with my dad. Well, it wasn’t my first performance, it was my first with him.
On her first performance with her father, John Lee Hooker…
It was really a trip to perform with him because it was really intimidating, you know even though he’s my father, it was very intimidating because I’m on the stage with John Lee Hooker! You know, even though he’s my father, there’s still the man and the persona. And so after the show I mean I was so, so tight and nervous I actually had to- after we finished the show I left and went home, I was just sick. (Laughing) I was just sick, my stomach was killing me. I was in knots. But it was really a great experience, being up there with him… I left the stage, left the dressing room and went home. I saw him the next day! He even asked me where I went, I said, I went home! I said, I was so nervous and he said, Nervous about what? I’m your daddy; you don’t have to be nervous around me. I said, Oh lord!
On the influence of traditional blues…
Well my major, major, major influence is Blues. And it’s not the contemporary blues, it’s really the traditional blues because that’s what I heard growing up. With my dad, and the traditional music that he did. Even though he did have a band and the band was, you know, I’m guessing his style of blues. And that’s what I knew, and what you know as a child grows up with you and stays with you. So that’s the music that’s number one for me, that very traditional music.
On the direction of her next album…
I’m starting to move even more traditional than that, you know Lead Belly and on my new CD I’m going to be doing some of his songs. I’m going to be doing In the Pines and I’m doing Ain’t it a Shame and I’m working on Backwater Blues.It’s going to be that kind of a CD. Once we get back from Canada, we’ll get started. Right now we’re working on getting ready for our shows up there.
On working with local musicians and performing abroad…
When I’m going to other countries, I’m going to do my own music. But I have to say the musicians who impress me most are the South American musicians from Buenos Aires. They have some really fine musicians down there. Not all of them, you know but the ones who had really studied the music and really researched everything, they really tend to be, not authentic but they get as close as I’ve heard. They really, really appreciate it. When I travel to other counties, they love the blues. And it’s not like that in the States, in the States it’s really hard… There’s hardly any place that we can play.
…If you watch some of the really great artists who leave the United States to go to Europe, to come to Canada because they get more respect; they’re able to work. They’re able to be appreciated. And it’s a lot easier. Here in the States there’s hardly, sometimes, anyplace for Blues musicians to play… I’m accepted very well down there, I mean you’re treated very well [in Buenos Aires].
On the favourite place she’s played…
Paris. I love Paris. And I don’t know why, there’s just something about Paris.
On pushing herself and performing with her husband…
Surprisingly enough, [my audience] is some of the same audience that was his (her father’s) audience. But it’s different from my father’s, even though I do some of his songs and everything, it’s different. The audience is different, they accept me for who I am. And it’s been a long struggle to get there. To step out of that shadow and be known for, being known as Zakiya. They still say the daughter of John Lee Hooker, they just love to say that, it’s no problem. But when I get on stage I have to hold my own, I can’t just pretend I’m being his daughter… It was not handed to me, you know the saving grace is that in life and everything, you’ve got a partner that is working with you and making sure that everything is correct. They know your faults and your shortcomings and they don’t let you become lazy and just think, you know I can just do enough. But you need to do more, you need to do more. And that’s what I have in Chris, that’s what he does. He doesn’t, you can’t settle for mediocrity, he just won’t, you can’t have that. And because he’s on the show with me, when he comes on and I come on behind him it’s very hard because he is such a good entertainer, it’s very hard; he makes me go to another level. I have to work hard. It’s like playing tennis, if you play with someone who can’t play any better than you, you can’t get any better.
On finding a different voice and perspective from her father…
I’m different, but not that different. Because in my head I still hear the riffs, the riffs that he’s singing, the riffs that he uses. I use some of those. I picked them up; I don’t have a choice because as a child, that’s what I heard… And sometimes I find myself having his timing; you know my father was famous for his timing. Sometimes they tease me about that because sometimes we’ll get there, but I know where I’m going, you know! Sometimes you just get into the music and it’s not about the timing, it’s not about anything, it’s about the music. You have to stay with that band (rhythmically) but if you’ve got a good band they can catch you and you can kind of slip over. But, my music is different because it’s a lot more contemporary and it’s also from a feminine view. It’s also from an aged view. You know, my father grew up in a time that I knew nothing of. He was a sharecropper’s son, he had to work in the fields, he picked cotton. You know, he didn’t- he couldn’t go to school. There were all sorts of things that I never experienced. So he’s singing from a whole different experience and he’s singing from the experience of him and a woman in love and things like that. All of my father’s songs are personal, very personal. They are something that has happened to him; that has gone on in his life.
On her own writing influences…
It’s usually just everyday life, things that go on in life. People are some of the best subjects for writing a song. We’ve got a song; it’s called The Art of Divorce. I don’t know if you’ve heard it but it talks about people getting married quickly, and then a couple years later their divorcing and there’s a child involved. The parents are in there screaming and hollering and nobody cares what’s going on with the child. You know, stuff like that. Then there’s the old Sneak Around song, let’s do something even if it’s wrong. And we sit and watch television and they may say a line or a fraise and we’ll say, that sounds like a song and you go write. But usually it’ll come sometimes from personal experiences. Like there’s a gentleman who writes for us and he’s gone on, his name is Angel Sal. And there were a couple of his songs that I do called Drowning in your Love and Receipt to Sing the Blues. Both are strong, but it was because of my struggle trying to get to where I am that I thought that was really a good song for me. Receipt to Sing the Blues. I’ve earned my receipt, I can sing the blues. So you know, you get your ideas and inspiration from not only everyday life but you get them from your life, from other people. We’re all like a collective consciousness. Everything that happens to one person doesn’t just happen to that one person it’s probably happening to somebody else too. We’re all in this together, so whatever you write about, somebody can relate to [it].
On the direction of her new album…
You know, [the album] is going to be kind of eclectic. Like I said, I’m going to do some of the old Lead Belly stuff, and that’s really way back there. I lost my son back in 1991 and there’s a song that’s going to be on there dedicated to him. And that’s kind of an acoustic song. It’s building, right now I don’t really have a theme. I might want to call it, maybe it’ll be called Zakiya Hooker: Eclectic. (Laughing) Yeah, now that I mention it, hey, it’s kind of eclectic blues.
On her last visit to Canada…
It’s been a while, it’s been a while since I’ve been to (western) Canada. But I was up in Ontario in May, there used to be a club called Dollar Bill and Dan Aykroyd, invited me up there to be on a show. Because the club, Dollar Bill’s was a very famous club back in the day, and a lot of people played there and my dad was one of the people. And so they wanted to do a CD for charity to raise money for children’s hospital. So they called me to get permission and I gave permission and then they told Peter to see if I could come up to be a special guest on the show, you know to make an appearance and such. So I went up and performed up there.
On her favourite person to perform with…
You know, Charles Brown. Charles Brown! I did a show with him and he was just the most charming person. I have this picture of my head laying on his chest. I’m just happy, he’s just a wonderful guy. But I loved Charles Brown’s singing, you know? Black Night! (Laughing) It would be Charles Brown. That has been… it was over 20 years ago.
On her upcoming visit to Vancouver…
I like it a lot, Vancouver it’s a beautiful place. I have friends up there, who I’ll be seeing while I’m up there. As a matter of fact I’ve got to get in touch with them. I’ve gotten in touch with one of them and I’ve let her know and she’s already, when you getting here, when you getting here!? So I get to see and visit friends while I’m up there. And just, connect again. And I get to see the Anthropology Museum while I’m up there. I did get to see it but I didn’t get to see the whole thing while I was there last time.
On what to expect from Music on the Grill…
Well if I do anything from the new album it’ll probably just be with my guitarist. Because the band, I mean I didn’t send those songs to them. But I’ll probably work on them and I’m learning to play the songs on guitar now so if I’m good enough I’ll play them. If not, FEDE will play them. (Laughing) I don’t want to have another experience where I get so sick, I have to leave the stage! But what my show does is, I come on and I perform and then Chris is also a part of my show. He comes on and I introduce him to the audience, because I want to really start booking him and managing him. Because he does a different show than I do. Then, after he does his thing I’ll come back. It’s got a different type of feel for a show. People like that.
Learn more about Zakiya Hooker, find out about her upcoming Canadian shows and buy her albums here.
Music on the Grill with Zakiya Hooker featuring Chris James. concludes Saturday, August 9th. Tickets are $52 for dinner and a concert, or $32 for a concert only. Subscriptions and group rates are available. Contact the Box Office at 604-927-6555, or buy tickets online at www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca.