Biography
During the 1970s Billy Branch established himself as a rising harmonica player among the fresh talents sustaining Chicago’s blues heritage. Decades later he stands as one of the Windy City’s most esteemed blues figures, using his dual roles as performer and teacher to champion the genre throughout the United States and beyond. Since the mid-1970s he has fronted his own ensemble, the Sons of Blues, whose roster has shifted repeatedly yet whose commitment to authentic Chicago blues has remained constant.
Branch entered the world in Chicago in 1951. At five he relocated with his family to California, only to return in 1969 and enroll at the University of Illinois, where he majored in political science. Already devoted to the blues harp, he caught the attention of the legendary songwriter and producer Willie Dixon, who invited him to step in for Carey Bell within the Chicago Blues All-Stars. After receiving his degree, Branch set aside his legal aspirations in favor of a full-time music career, traveling with Dixon and assembling Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues. The first edition of the group included guitarist Lurrie Bell, son of Carey Bell, and bassist Freddie Dixon, son of Willie.
In 1984 Branch and the Sons of Blues issued their first album, Where’s My Money. By then the personnel had settled around guitarist Carlos Johnson, bassist J.W. Williams, and drummer Mose Rutues, though the band’s membership continued to evolve; Rutues, however, remained for more than twenty-five years. Branch also shared the spotlight on Alligator Records’ 1990 release Harp Attack!, joining fellow harmonica virtuosos Junior Wells, Carey Bell, and James Cotton. He contributed to sessions by Koko Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Syl Johnson, Johnny Winter, and scores of others while conducting an inventive “Blues in the Schools” initiative that introduced blues history to students across America, Mexico, Europe, and South America. Over his recording career he has earned three Grammy nominations and two W.C. Handy Awards.
Following a ten-year recording hiatus, Branch and his current Sons of Blues lineup resurfaced in 2014 with the album Blues Shock. Five years afterward they issued Roots and Branches: The Songs of Little Walter, honoring the iconic Chicago blues harp master.
Branch entered the world in Chicago in 1951. At five he relocated with his family to California, only to return in 1969 and enroll at the University of Illinois, where he majored in political science. Already devoted to the blues harp, he caught the attention of the legendary songwriter and producer Willie Dixon, who invited him to step in for Carey Bell within the Chicago Blues All-Stars. After receiving his degree, Branch set aside his legal aspirations in favor of a full-time music career, traveling with Dixon and assembling Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues. The first edition of the group included guitarist Lurrie Bell, son of Carey Bell, and bassist Freddie Dixon, son of Willie.
In 1984 Branch and the Sons of Blues issued their first album, Where’s My Money. By then the personnel had settled around guitarist Carlos Johnson, bassist J.W. Williams, and drummer Mose Rutues, though the band’s membership continued to evolve; Rutues, however, remained for more than twenty-five years. Branch also shared the spotlight on Alligator Records’ 1990 release Harp Attack!, joining fellow harmonica virtuosos Junior Wells, Carey Bell, and James Cotton. He contributed to sessions by Koko Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Syl Johnson, Johnny Winter, and scores of others while conducting an inventive “Blues in the Schools” initiative that introduced blues history to students across America, Mexico, Europe, and South America. Over his recording career he has earned three Grammy nominations and two W.C. Handy Awards.
Following a ten-year recording hiatus, Branch and his current Sons of Blues lineup resurfaced in 2014 with the album Blues Shock. Five years afterward they issued Roots and Branches: The Songs of Little Walter, honoring the iconic Chicago blues harp master.
Albums
