Last updated: 5 hours ago
Billy Branch is an award-winning musician, actor, and educator who carries the torch for the promotion and preservation of the blues. He's been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his 50-year career including an Emmy and three Grammy nominations.
Billy bought his first harmonica at Woolworth's at age 10 and taught himself to play. He was mentored by greats James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Willie Dixon, and Big Walter Horton. In 1975, he began performing with the Willie Dixon Chicago Blues All-Stars. He was signed by Alligator Records and recorded on 1978's Living Chicago Blues Volume No. 3 and 1990's Harp Attack, featured alongside Carey Bell, Junior Wells, and James Cotton.
Billy formed his band, the Sons of Blues, in 1997. Current band members include keyboardist Sumito "Ariyo" Ariyoshi, bassist Ari Seder, guitarist Giles Corey, and drummer Dionte "McMusick" Skinner.
In addition to recording 15 albums with the Sons of Blues, Billy has played harmonica on over 300 albums including with Vince Gill, Stephen Stills, Koko Taylor, Lou Rawls, Taj Mahal, Son Seals, Mike Mills of REM, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, and scores of others.
Billy's new album "The Blues is My Biography," produced by Larry Batiste, is the first release for Rosa's Lounge Records, the label spinoff of the iconic Rosa's Lounge in Chicago.
Billy bought his first harmonica at Woolworth's at age 10 and taught himself to play. He was mentored by greats James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Willie Dixon, and Big Walter Horton. In 1975, he began performing with the Willie Dixon Chicago Blues All-Stars. He was signed by Alligator Records and recorded on 1978's Living Chicago Blues Volume No. 3 and 1990's Harp Attack, featured alongside Carey Bell, Junior Wells, and James Cotton.
Billy formed his band, the Sons of Blues, in 1997. Current band members include keyboardist Sumito "Ariyo" Ariyoshi, bassist Ari Seder, guitarist Giles Corey, and drummer Dionte "McMusick" Skinner.
In addition to recording 15 albums with the Sons of Blues, Billy has played harmonica on over 300 albums including with Vince Gill, Stephen Stills, Koko Taylor, Lou Rawls, Taj Mahal, Son Seals, Mike Mills of REM, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, and scores of others.
Billy's new album "The Blues is My Biography," produced by Larry Batiste, is the first release for Rosa's Lounge Records, the label spinoff of the iconic Rosa's Lounge in Chicago.
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