As a young musician, John Primer drew his first influences from his family's involvement with spiritual and gospel music. This early exposure, aided by the the sounds of Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Little Milton, Elmore James, B.B. & Albert King, led to a fascination with the blues. True to the form of many bluesmen before him, Primer left Mississippi for Chicago where he played alongside Sammy Lawhorn, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Smokey Smothers, Lonnie Brooks. His career did not have anywhere to go but up and he was taken on as an opening act for Muddy Waters. After Muddy's passing in 1983, Primer joined and toured with Magic Slim and the Teardrops until 1995 when he released his debut album The Real Deal. Ever since, this Grammy and W.C. Handy award nominee has been tearing up the world as front man of The Real Deal Blues Band!