Barkin' Bill Smith

Possessing a velvety, richly toned baritone that stands in marked contrast to Chicago’s gritty blues aesthetic, Barkin’ Bill Smith achieved his breakthrough in 1994 when Delmark issued his first solo album. Shaped by the styles of Joe Williams (Count Basie’s silky vocalist, distinct from the tough nine-string guitarist), Brook Benton, and Jimmy Witherspoon, this sharply dressed performer spent his early years in Mississippi, paused to perform in East St. Louis and Detroit, and eventually made the Windy City his home.

In 1958, while sharing a bill with slide guitarist Homesick James, Smith received the lasting stage name that has defined his career ever since. After years of struggle on Chicago’s South and West sides, he connected with the youthful guitarist Dave Specter & the Bluebirds, making his first appearance on record with their 1991 Delmark album Bluebird Blues. Once his association with Specter ended, Smith’s own debut, Gotcha!, arrived three years later.