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John Lee Hooker Foundation

The John Lee Hooker Foundation nurtures musical talent by supporting music education and literacy in underserved communities through lessons, book donations, and training programs, aiming to empower the next generation of musicians.

Every great blues story begins with a guitar &mdash; and this auction offers a masterpiece: a Gibson ES‑335, resonant, timeless, and crafted for soul‑deep expression. During the Inaugural Life &amp; Legacy Celebration, your bid on this extraordinary instrument becomes part of a larger legacy. It supports youth music programs, nurtures new blues voices, and preserves the spaces where community and creativity meet. The blues lives on through every act of generosity.&nbsp; When you lift your paddle, you help carry the blues forward.

Inaugural Life & Legacy Celebration

THE JOHN LEE HOOKER FOUNDATIONBLUES NIGHT&nbsp;INAUGURAL LIFE &amp; LEGACY CELEBRATIONSaturday, August 22, 2026Aretha&rsquo;s Jazz Cafe 350 Madison Street Detroit, MI 48226 Celebrate the life, music, and enduring influence of blues legend John Lee Hooker in the city where his unmistakable sound took shape. The John Lee Hooker Foundation will host its Inaugural Life &amp; Legacy Celebration on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Aretha&rsquo;s Jazz Cafe in Detroit. This extraordinary evening of live performances, storytelling, family legacy, and tribute marks the Foundation&rsquo;s return to the city where John Lee Hooker created the raw, hypnotic sound that shaped generations of musicians around the world. August 22 is also John Lee Hooker&rsquo;s birthday. He would have turned 109. A LEGACY BORN IN DETROITJohn Lee Hooker arrived in Detroit in 1943 during the Great Migration. It was here that his music took the form the world came to know&mdash;a deeply original sound that transformed the blues and influenced artists across genres and generations. Founded by the Hooker family in December 2001, the year of his death, the John Lee Hooker Foundation carries that legacy forward through music education, cultural preservation, and community programs for young people. This celebration is the Foundation&rsquo;s first major event in Detroit and the beginning of what it intends to become its signature annual fundraiser. The evening will also help the Foundation build toward a new youth music and technology program it hopes to launch in the city. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re coming back to where it all started for me and my family,&rdquo; said Glenn T. Thomas Jr., Hooker&rsquo;s grandson and CEO of John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits. &ldquo;My family started this foundation in 2001 to introduce the blues to a new generation through our Blues In The School program. Now we want to expand that here in Detroit, teaching kids not just music but technology, and making sure the younger generation understands who John Lee Hooker was and what he means to this city.&rdquo; &ldquo;Our mission is to uplift communities through music education and cultural preservation, and to create opportunities for young people to discover their own voice,&rdquo; said Zakiya Hooker, John Lee Hooker&rsquo;s daughter, Executive Director of the Foundation, and a featured performer at the celebration. LIVE PERFORMANCESThe evening will feature a showcase of blues artists, including:&bull; Zakiya Hooker &bull; Tosha Owens &bull; Smoke Jones &bull; Lady Champagne &bull; Jimmy D. Scotts &bull; Rondell Hooker &bull; Lynn Marie &bull; Dejeana Burkes Guests will also experience a presentation about the Foundation&rsquo;s work, personal remarks celebrating the Hooker family legacy, and an all-artist closing jam. VIP EXPERIENCE | 6:00&ndash;7:00 PMThe evening begins with an exclusive VIP hour featuring:&bull; A Boogie Chillen&rsquo; Bourbon tasting from John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits &bull; Soul food from Fixin&rsquo;s &bull; A VIP swag bag featuring a handmade gift &bull; Early access to the celebration GENERAL ADMISSION | 7:00&ndash;10:00 PMGeneral admission guests will enjoy the complete performance and tribute program, including live music, storytelling, Foundation remarks, family legacy moments, and the all-artist closing jam. SILENT AUCTION: GIBSON ES-335The celebration will feature a silent auction for a Gibson ES-335&mdash;the guitar model synonymous with John Lee Hooker&rsquo;s legendary sound.The instrument was generously donated by Gibson to the John Lee Hooker Foundation. Every dollar raised through the auction will support the Foundation&rsquo;s youth programs.Opening Bid: $3,250Bidding is open now:<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/inaugural-life-and-legacy-celebration" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/inaugural-life-and-legacy-celebration</a> PROCEEDS WITH A PURPOSEProceeds from the Inaugural Life &amp; Legacy Celebration will support the John Lee Hooker Foundation&rsquo;s youth music, arts, education, and cultural programs.The Foundation&rsquo;s flagship Blues In The School program brings instruments, educational curricula, and working musicians into under-resourced schools and community organizations. Through this work&mdash;and its vision for a new youth music and technology program in Detroit&mdash;the Foundation is helping young people discover their voices while preserving the history and cultural importance of the blues. PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH&bull; Aretha&rsquo;s Jazz Cafe &bull; Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts &bull; Black Spirits Legacy &bull; John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits ABOUT THE JOHN LEE HOOKER FOUNDATIONFounded by the Hooker family in 2001, the John Lee Hooker Foundation honors the blues legend&rsquo;s legacy through music, education, cultural preservation, and community programs for youth.Its flagship Blues In The School program provides instruments, music curricula, and access to working musicians for young people in under-resourced schools and community organizations. Come experience an extraordinary night of live blues, and help bring his legacy home to a new generation in Detroit.

Inauguaral Life & Legacy Celebration

Welcome to our online fundraising auction. 📣 Each item up for bid has been generously donated by our supporters, partners, and sponsors, with all proceeds directly benefiting our cause. By participating in our auction, you&#39;re not just acquiring remarkable items; you&#39;re also making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Spread the word, rally your friends and family, and together, let&#39;s make this auction a success! 🚀 Thank you for your support, and happy bidding! John Lee Hooker Foundation

John Lee Hooker Foundation

John Lee Hooker Foundation

Past events

Past events

Inaugural Life & Legacy Celebration

Inauguaral Life & Legacy Celebration

John Lee Hooker Foundation's Silent Auction

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