Billy Boy Arnold interview

Billy Boy Arnold joins me on episode 53.Today we have a little part of blues harmonica history, as Billy lived through the heyday of the blues in Chicago and was a peer of the many great players at the time, being born just five years after Little Walter himself. He took a couple of lessons with John Lee Williamson, aka SBWI, at just 12 years of age. Billy released his first record at the age of 17 and then went on to release two songs with Bo Diddley, including coming up with possibly the most well known harmonica riff ever on I’m A Man. Shortly afterwards Billy went on to record his harmonica classic, I Wish You Would. Billy took some time off from touring for a few years before he came back strong with two albums released through Alligator records in the 1990s. He has continued to record and release great albums until recently, and his passion for the harmonica is as infectious as ever after over 70 years of playing.Links:Discography:https://www.wirz.de/music/arnoldbb.htmMore Blues On The South Side album:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML3xmmjhItUThe Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold book (by Kim Field):https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo119945396.htmlKim Field website:https://www.kimfield.comVideos:Tom Jones playing I Wish You Would live:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CgmJgQzcrIAmerican Blues Legends Tour 1975:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvUa_56XysMStudio recording of song from SBWI album:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmqHIjTenHwJohn Peel session with BBC from 1977:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAL-0nwbzZ8Three Harp Boogie song with James Cotton and Paul Butterfield:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHchw-sHzkPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations:If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GBSpotify Playlist: Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast sponsors:This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICASand Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/Support the show

Om Podcasten

The Happy Hour Harmonica podcast brings profiles of some of the top harmonica players and technicians today. The podcast is sponsored by Seydel harmonicas. Check out their great range of products at www.seydel1847.com.If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to help keep the podcast running then please use this link: https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour. Visit the main podcast webpage at: https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/ Contact: happyhourharmonicapodcast@gmail.com