Rico McFarland

Rico McFarland, born March 5, 1960, spent years supplying guitar to luminous blues artists such as James Cotton and Lucky Peterson before initiating his solo career in 2001 amid widespread praise. The Chicago guitarist collaborated with a wide array of blues performers across his career, among them Albert King, Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, Artie White, Kinsey Report, and others, although his ties to Cotton and Peterson remain the most recognized. For Evidence Records in 2001 he cut his debut solo album, Tired of Being Alone, enlisting an extensive lineup of guest vocalists that included Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, Billy Branch, and Teela. The recording earned substantial acclaim and secured McFarland a 2002 W.C. Handy nomination for Best New Artist of the Year.