BILLY BOY ARNOLD
Born September 15th, 1935 in Chicago, BILLY BOY ARNOLD is best known as one of the prime architects of the Electric Chicago Blues sound of the 1950s as well as a major influence on the British Blues revival of the '60s. He remains an active and vital Blues artist here in the 21st century both touring and recording on a regular basis. At age 13, Billy Boy was captivated by the music of the Original Sonny Boy, John Lee Williamson and visited Sonny Boy at his home in Chicago for a series of informal harmonica lessons, just before Williamson’s untimely death in 1948. Billy Boy’s recording debut was a 45 rpm “Hello Stranger b/w I Ain’t Got No Money” released in 1952 on a local Chicago label. Cool, where he got the nickname “Billy Boy”. After joining forces with street musician Ellas McDaniel a.k.a. Bo Diddley they made the move to Chess, where Billy Boy played harp on the March 1955 classic “I’m a Man”. Not content to be a sideman, Billy Boy signed with the VeeJay label where he recorded the original versions of “I Wish You Would” and “I Ain’t Got You” -- both later covered by Eric Clapton and The Yardbirds. “I Wish You Would” was also covered by David Bowie on his 1973 LP “Pin Ups”. The early 1960s were a a difficult period for many Chicago Blues artists -- music gigs began to dry up in Chicago -- and Billy Boy found work driving a bus and as a parole officer for the State of Illinois. By the early '70s Billy Boy was enjoying the Blues revival touring Europe and the U.K. Since that time, he's recorded for Alligator Records, Stony Plain and Electro-Fi. Billy Boy Arnold is one of the last of the Chicago blues originals and one of the most important and treasured exponents of American music performing today.
JOHN PRIMER
As the title of his critically acclaimed Atlantic Records CD suggests, Grammy and Handy Award Nominee, JOHN PRIMER is truly "The Real Deal". At 8 years old, John borrowed his first guitar and started to strum. Early inspiration came from his family steeped in spiritual, gospel, and R&B tradition. As a young boy, John first appeared on stage at the local Baptist church, and went on to play at house parties and fish frys in and around his hometown of Camden, Mississippi. In the fall of 1963, At the age of 18, John migrated to Chicago. He quickly found work in an era when modern electric blues and West and South Side sounds were first taking shape. In 1974, he joined the house band at the world famous Theresa's Lounge on the South Side of Chicago. Over the course of the next 5 years, John would play with such blues originators as Sammy Lawhorn, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Smokey Smothers, Lonnie Brooks, and a host of others sculpting the sound of Chicago Blues. In 1979, master songwriter and bassist WILLIE DIXON persuaded him to join his band The Chicago All-Stars. Traveling through the U.S. Mexico and Europe, John honed his skills as a rhythm guitarist, lead slide player, and a powerful singer. MUDDY WATERS recruited John not only as his guitar player, but also as an opening act. John stayed loyal to Muddy until his untimely death in 1983. After Muddy's death, John signed on with the legendary Magic Slim. For the next 14 years, he toured with Magic Slim & The Teardrops. In 1995 the veteran bluesman released his solo debut "The Real Deal". Since that time he's released 10 albums and toured extensively. A master storyteller and songwriter his catalog of songs is endless. With John Primer's strong traditionalist blues phrasing and lightning fast slide techniques, few artists can match him.
BILLY BRANCH
BILLY BRANCH was born in Chicago in 1951 and picked up a harmonica at the age of ten. At the age of 18, he became immersed in the local blues scene -- learning from such legendary harmonica players as: Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Junior Wells and Carey Bell. He eventually replaced Carey Bell in Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars band and worked with Willie Dixon for six years. During this time, Billy formed the Sons Of Blues (S.O.B.s) featuring musicians who were the sons of famous blues artists including Lurrie Bell, Freddie Dixon and Garland Whiteside. S.O.B. toured Europe and recorded for Alligator Record's Grammy-nominated "Living Chicago Blues" sessions. Billy has recorded and/or performed with an incredible list of Blues legends including: Muddy Waters, Big Walter Horton, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Koko Taylor, Johnny Winter, and Albert King and Taj Mahal. He's also dedicated to passing on the blues tradition to a new generation through his award-winning Blues In The Schools program. He is a dedicated blues educator and has taught in the Chicago school system for over twenty years as part of the Urban Gateways Project.
LURRIE BELL
Born December 13, 1958, LURRIE BELL was raised in a Chicago household naturally steeped in the blues. All manner of blues greats would regularly drop by to rehearse with his father, legendary harmonica master CAREY BELL: guitarists including Eddie Taylor, Eddie C. Campbell, Jimmy Dawkins, and Eddy Clearwater (Bell’s cousin); harmonica legends like Big Walter Horton; and equally storied keyboardists including Sunnyland Slim and Muddy Waters sideman Lovie Lee, whom Bell came to regard as his “spiritual grandfather.” So it was that at an emphatically young age, Bell taught himself guitar and began playing along during rehearsals. At 15, he formed his first band. In 1977, Bell was a founding member of the Sons of Blues with fellow Chicago blues scions Freddie Dixon (son of Willie) and Billy Branch. Bell also made his first appearance in the recording studio that year with his father on Carey Bell's Delmark album “Heartaches and Pains.” At 20, Bell joined the band of Chicago’s acknowledged Queen of the Blues: Koko Taylor and stayed for several years, honing his chops and learning the ropes of being a traveling musician. The firebrand Chicago blues guitarslinger whom the Boston Phoenix declared “the most talented blues guitarist of his generation”, spent much of the '80s and '90s off the road, struggling with a health problems . Lurrie's 2007 critically-acclaimed release "LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE" (2007), signaled Lurrie's triumphant return. Lurrie Bell has contributed to over 50 albums, including numerous solo efforts, duets with father Carey, and an extensive list of guest appearances. Since the onset of the new millennium, Lurrie Bell is back and better than ever.
Johnny Iguana is one of the most accomplished blues piano players in Chicago today. He has led his own bands since he was a teenager and has recorded or worked with the an array of the greatest Chicago blues artists including Junior Wells, Eddie Shaw, Otis Rush, Billy Branch, Koko Taylor, Carey Bell, Dave Meyers, Byther smith and many others.
