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Profile
Billy Branch
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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Billy Branch has followed a very non-traditional path to the blues. Born in Chicago in 1951 but raised in Los Angeles, he first picked up the harmonica at the age of ten and immediately began to play simple popular tunes. It wasn’t until he returned to Chicago in 1969 to attend the University of Illinois, however, that he first discovered the blues. Completely immersing himself in the vibrant blues scene he was soon learning his craft from formidable harmonica players like Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Junior Wells and Carey Bell. His big break came in 1975 during a harmonica battle when he beat Chicago legend, Little Mac Simmons at the Green Bunny Club. Billy made his first recording for Barrelhouse Records and began to work as an apprentice harp player in Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars. He eventually replaced Carey Bell and worked with Willie Dixon for six years. During this time, Billy formed the Sons Of Blues (S.O.B.s) featuring musicians who where the sons of famous blues artists. The original S.O.B.s consisted of Billy, Lurrie Bell, Freddie Dixon and Garland Whiteside. In 1990, he appeared with three harp legends, Carey Bell, Junior Wells, and James Cotton, on the W.C Handy Award winning album, Harp Attack! As well as carrying on the torch of Chicago blues harmonica, Billy is also a dedicated blues educator having been involved with the Blues In The Schools program since its inception. Blues producer, Chicago Beau has written, "Billy Branch has become a beacon, and model for his times; as an artist, and social/cultural activist...Billy Branch is a Bluesman; Billy Branch is the Blues."
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