Blues singer and guitarist John Hammond shares his name with his father, grandfather and great grandfather. He is called - as was his father, John Henry Hammond - John Hammond Junior.
Both men have substantial claims to fame. When John Paul Hammond began to record for Columbia records in the 1970s, the older John Hammond Junior, that label's truly legendary talent scout, was sometimes referred to as John Hammond Senior in order to avoid confusion between the two.
Confusion lingers. The Timeless album, issued on Palmetto Records last Tuesday, is credited to John Hammond, but iTunes has added "Senior" to his name.
Perhaps somebody at Apple feels that now the artist is 71, the "Junior" is no longer appropriate.
It is hard to say how much the third John Hammond's deep, broad understanding of American popular music influenced the fourth's.
He certainly cast a long shadow, but following a divorce it seems he had little to do with his son's upbringing, and not only didn't sign him to Columbia, but was said to be unhappy when he joined the label.