At first glance it would seem that Zakiya Hooker was born into the blues. After all, her father is Blues Legend John Lee Hooker. But rather than relying on her father, Zakiya has pursued life and her music on her own terms.
In 1991 Zakiya made her first public appearance with her father, John Lee Hooker at the Kaiser Center Theatre in Oakland, CA. Since that time Zakiya has gone on to perform on shows with Etta James, Charles Brown, John Hammond, Taj Mahal and many more. By 1993 Zakiya released her first album 'Another Generation Of The Blues', on Silvertone Records. In 1997 she released her second album, 'Flavors Of The Blues', worldwide on Pointblank/Virgin Records. 2001 brought a live release recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 'Colors Of The Blues'. She is now working on her fourth album.
Zakiya has spoken on Blues panels and given spoken word performances about this unique American Art form, all in addition to her performing and recording career. She was selected to give a spoken word performance at film director Martin Scorsese's Radio City Music Hall Blues Concert on February 7, 2003 in New York City, NY, a concert that was filmed by director Antoine Fuqua. Zakiya was also a panelist, as well as a spoken word performer at San Francisco's KQED-TV launch program for Scorsese's fall 2003 PBS-TV series, 'The Blues' at San Francisco's Herbst Theatre on September 16, 2003.
Zakiya's music has carried her all over the world and given her the opportunity to perform for fans the world over. Zakiya has performed internationally in Paris, Amsterdam, London and Switzerland. Zakiya has performed at the world famous Fillmore Auditorium, the San Francisco Blues Festival and the Monterey Jazz & Blues Festivals. She has been on the cover of several well known trade magazines including Billboard Magazine. Zakiya's voice can also be heard on advertisements for Lexus and AIWA, and also on the soundtrack of the movie Chalk, which recently won both the Camera d'Or at Cannes and Grand Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in San Francisco.
Zakiya Hooker is John Lee Hooker's living legacy. She is the singer-songwriter daughter of this American Icon and she is carrying her father's seminal blues torch confidently into the future. Let her Jazzy Blues sounds take you in and out of songs like Hey Lady, Baby You Busted, New Orleans Rain and Protect Me From The Blues and many, many more. This is the singer-songwriter you have been looking for to play at your events or any other occasion you might come up with. Let Zakiya entertain you with the best in blues and jazz.
DISCOGRAPHY
Another Generation Of The Blues (1993) Silvertone - Zakiya Hooker
Flavors Of The Blues (1997) Pointblank/Virgin - Zakiya Hooker
Every Woman's Blues (1998) Shanachie Records - Various Artists - *Baby You Busted - Zakiya Hooker
From Clarksdale To Heaven (2002) Blues Storm Music - John Lee Hooker -Various Artists - *I Want To Hug You - Zakiya Hooker/Johnnie Johnson/Bobby Murray
Colors Of The Blues (2003) Live in Buenos Aires - Zakiya Hooker
Face To Face (2003) - John Lee Hooker - *Zakiya Hooker - Vocals
PRESS
NIGHT LIFE MAGAZINE - Much like her father's, Zakiya's vocal instrument has a dusky, shimmering feel.
BLUES RAG - Zakiya sounds more like the offspring of George Benson. Zakiya has the talent to carve a niche on the jazz chart with an excellent voice.
BLUE SUEDE NEWS - Hooker's sophisticated voice does not scream or growl. Instead, it purrs.
CONTRA COSTA TIMES - Zakiya has earned the right to sing the Blues.
VALLEY TIMES - Flavors Of The Blues highlights Zakiya's common trait with her dad - the soothing quality of their voices.
DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE - John's daughter, Zakiya makes the most of her classy, cautious and considered approach to the Blues.
SAN DIEGO JAZZ & BLUES MAGAZINE - What Zakiya does is for real and she sings like a bird. More obvious is her passion for the story she tells. She paints a humble and truthful picture and delivers what I need in my Blues musically.