J. B. Lenoir

J. B. Lenoir was born in 1929 in Mississippi, where his father played harmonica and his mother sang spirituals. He started performing in local juke joints and clubs by the 1950s. In 1954, he recorded his first single, "Eisenhower Blues," which became a modest hit.

His song "Alabama Blues" from 1959 captured the racial injustice in the Deep South with haunting vocals and evocative lyrics. It became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. Lenoir's outspoken lyrics and activism sometimes drew attention from authorities, but he continued using his music as a platform for protest.

Lenoir's discography includes albums like "J. B. Lenoir Recorded Live" from 1965 and "The Mojo Man" from 1970. Other notable songs in his catalog include "Vietnam," "The Mojo," and "Voodoo Boogie." He passed away in 1967 at age 38.