Mighty Joe Young (September 23, 1927 – March 27, 1999) was an American Chicago blues guitarist. Born Joseph Young in Shreveport, Louisiana, he died in Chicago, Illinois. Though born in Louisiana, Young was raised in Milwaukee. He first began playing in the early 1950s by singing in Milwaukee nightclubs. By the mid-1950s, Young had recorded his first song for Jiffy Records in Louisiana.
Before Young became known for his contributions to blues, he was training to become a boxer.
Young was one of the busiest sidemen in Chicago from the late 1950s. He was in Otis Rush's band for several years in the 1960s, and played on Magic Sam's albums, West Side Soul and Black Magic. He recorded his own solo album, Blues with a Touch of Soul, for Delmark Records in 1971. Young also worked alongside Willie Dixon, Billy Boy Arnold and Jimmy Rogers. Young's song, "Turning Point", appeared in the Michael Mann feature film, Thief (1981).
Young died in March 1999 at the age of 71, from a complication of spinal surgery which he hoped would restore his ability to play the guitar.
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