Hungry John - Blues ambassador

John Magnar Bernes, better known as "Hungry John", has dedicated his life to serving the blues. Since the mid-sixties, he has travelled Norway and abroad spreading the blues, always exploring new musical possibilities. He is one of the standing figures on the Norwegian music scene, a respected veteran with a lifelong passion for blues.

Bernes was given his nickname, "Hungry John" during his days as ...starving street-musician in London in the early seventies. Back home in Norway, he started Bergen Blues Band in '75. This band was instrumental in giving blues a break-trough in Norway. The band released three recordings on the EMI label.

At the end of '84, Bernes felt the need for renewal. He started The Blue Shadows, inspired by the more rock-related Texas-blues. The band released three recordings the ten years they existed. The first album was also released in the U.S. The Blue Shadows were never really disbanded, but after a few personal changes, Bernes chose to drop the band name and continue under the simple and catchy name, "Hungry John".

Bernes has always chosen to record his own material, saving the blues- standards for his live shows. He has toured extensively in finland with Wentus Blues Band, and also with his own band in Scandinavia, Germany, France and Russia. He has done tours and sessions in the U.S as well as Europe with among others: Sunnyland Slim, Homesick James, Eddie Boyd, Louisiana Red, Alexis Korner, Colin Hodgkinson, Jukka Tolonen, Pete York, Guitar Shorty, Bob Stroger, S.P. Leary, Roy Allison, Willie Smith. He has done support for B.B. King, John Mayal, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells among others.

In his fourth decade as an active musician, Bernes continues to expand his musical horizons and capture new listeners. Hungry John's latest CD is entitled "It's All Right". It contains the real stuff; Chicago boggie, shuffles, rhythm 'n rock, and off course, a blues balad. This album should satisfy the hard-core listener as well as those with a more relaxed attitude towards the blues. And if one does not care for the blues, chanses are one might get hooked.