Biography

Lonnie "Youngblood" (born Lonnie Thomas August 3, 1941 in Augusta, Georgia) is an American saxophonist and bandleader best remembered for playing with Jimi Hendrix. Youngblood's main influence is King Curtis, although his earliest influence was his mother's favorite artist Louis Jordan. In 1966 Youngblood played with Hendrix on some sessions with various singers for producer Johnny Brantley. Three of these sessions yielded the Youngblood singles "Goodbye, Bessie Mae"/ "Soul Food (That's What I Like)" and "Go Go Shoes" (Parts 1 & 2), and five singles by other artists. After Hendrix' death Brantley put together an LP from these sessions, including the two Youngblood singles, the other artists singles plus a couple of out-takes from these sessions, adding some new overdubs to "improve" the sound. All of the original vocals by the other artists were wiped, although they can be heard faintly in places, and there was no mention of them. None of the original artists were credited - apart from Youngblood - and the cover misleadingly featured a 1969 photo of Hendrix and Youngblood jamming on stage. The sleeve notes falsely claim that these were Hendrix earliest recordings made in 1964. This date has clearly been demonstrated to be false by earlyhendrix.com. He also worked from time to time in Curtis Knight & Hendrix' group Curtis Knight and the Squires. In 2010 Youngblood initiated a lawsuit against the Hendrix estate. MCA Records and film director Martin Scorsese for their unauthorised use of what he claimed was his composition "Georgia Blues" on the Jimi Hendrix album. "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues."