BILLY BRANCH & THE SONS OF BLUES

by James "Curley" Cooke & Marlee Walker

Born in 1951 just north of Chicago, Billy Branch grew up on the West Coast. He discovered the blues in Los Angeles and his first harmonica lessons came from Paul Butterfield. In ’69, Branch returned to Chicago, took part in the legendary Grant Park Festival, and began appearing at local institutions, Queen Bee’s and Theresa Lounge. Rapidly acquiring the city’s harmonica style, Branch has become one of Chicago’s chief proponents of the instrument - cleverly combining the varied influences of his mentors and equals, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Walter Horton, James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell and Mojo Bufford.

In 1975 Branch won a "harp" contest at the Green Bunny Club, later recording for the Barrelhouse label, which came to the attention of Bell who subsequently recommended Branch as his replacement in Willie Dixon’s famous Blues All Stars group. Branch completed his apprenticeship while playing with Dixon and formed his own band, Sons of Blues, featuring Lurrie Bell (Carey’s son) on guitar, Freddie Dixon (a bassist like his father), and a young drummer recruited at Queen Bee’s, Jeff Ruffin. In 1978, Sons of Blues was invited to Bruce Iglauer’s Living Chicago Blues sessions, and Branch has been a regular studio player ever since.

In addition to his own productions, Branch has recorded and/or performed with Muddy Waters, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, KoKo Taylor, Johnny Winter, and Lou Rawls for his album ‘Shades of Blue’, in addition to ‘Harp Attack!’ featuring Branch alongside the three preeminent harmonica players, Carey Bell, Junior Wells, and James Cotton. His most recent recording is called "The Blues Keep Following Me Around," on Verve, and features a very tight combo.

Branch is also a dedicated blues educator, teaching in the Chicago school system for twenty years as part of that city’s Urban Gateways Project, and in the nationwide Blues in the Schools program which he will be teaching while visiting the Northwest (see above).

About two years ago, NW musician Curley Cooke made an eight day trip to Charleston to see the "Blues in the Schools program in action. "The highlight of the trip was watching Billy Branch conduct a class of some 40+ middle school students. I had been to several other classes before I made it to Billy’s class, and although they were commendable, nothing was like watching this man in aciton. Here he had a potential free-for-all with a young group of kids, during after-school hours, yet he had them organized in total harmony. They were performing blues tunes, group singing, playing, soloing, both instrumentally and vocally, supporting each other, creating their own lyrics, gesturing, acting, and most of all, having a great time with the Blues."

"Billy is a super teacher and educator, calling all the students by their first name. He spoke to them on common ground, as their friend, yet still maintained the role of teacher, leader, disciplinarian, and entertainer. He encouraged the introverts to step out, and channeled the energies of the extroverts, and made it all work together. As the principal of the school said to me on the side, ‘There probably wouldn’t be a "Blues in the Schools" program without Billy.’ I will never forget Billy standing up on top of a desk, with his baseball hat and jacket, blue jeans, and sneakers on, directing ‘Hey, Hey. The Blues is Allright.’"

The principal harpmaster of his generation, Branch was voted ‘Living Blues’ magazine’s 1993 "Most Outstanding Blues Musician" in the harmonica category. As blues producer, Chicago Beau, puts it, "Billy Branch is a Bluesman; Billy Branch is the Blues."

The Sons Of Blues features Carl Weathersby guitar/vocals (who is also nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for "Best Blues Song" for the title track of Billy's latest recording and who also has just released his own debut on the Evidence label), and Mose Rutues drums, Nick Charles bass.

Joining the Blues In Schools at Folklife will be 12 year old slide guitar sensation, David Jacob Strain. Also, look for Branch and the S.O.B.'s to be club hopping on the 18th. Many thanks to Rosa Enrico-Young! **