Career
Born Joseph Valery, Junior. in Vicksburg, Mississippi, his musical style is often compared to B. B. King. Living in Detroit, Michigan, he formed the band the Midnighters in the late 1950s. He moved to Los Angeles, California, where he cut some records for Kent and Checker Records in the 1960s.
His 1966 song "Dirty Work Is Going On" is now a popular part of the blues repertoire.
He recorded for various labels throughout the 1980s. He played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1974, travelled to Europe in 1982, and appeared at the Chicago Blues Festival in 1986.
Little Joe Blue"s Greatest Hits, a two-album set available on Civil Defense, includes (among others) the tracks "Dirty Work Going On", "Encourage Maine Baby", "Don"t Start Maine To Talking" and Little Milton"s "How Could You Do lieutenant to Maine". He died in Reno, Nevada in 1990 at the age of 55 from stomach cancer.
