Biography
Carey Bell Harrington was born on November 14, 1936, in Macon, Mississippi, and began playing harmonica as a child, coming under the guidance of pianist Lovie Lee in nearby Meridian during his teens. In the mid-1950s, Lee brought Bell to Chicago, where he navigated a shifting blues scene dominated by electric guitars, often playing bass to support himself while performing harmonica with guitarists like Eddie Taylor and Royal Johnson on the West Side. His early career included session work and tours, such as with Earl Hooker, and his debut album Carey's Bell's Blues Harp on Delmark Records in 1969 marked the start of his solo recognition.[1][3]
Fun Facts
- Carey Bell toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival in 1969, performing at London's Royal Albert Hall on a live recording.
- He briefly played with Howlin' Wolf and was a session player on over 100 recordings, adapting effortlessly to any song.
- In 2023, Bell was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
- Bell doubled as a bassist early in Chicago due to declining demand for harmonica players amid the rise of electric guitars.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Lovie Lee - early mentor and pianist who taught and brought him to Chicago (early band performances) [teens to mid-1950s]
- Big Walter Horton - key harmonica influence in Chicago blues style (duo recording Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell (1972)) [1960s-1970s]
- Little Walter Jacobs - stylistic influence in Chicago blues harmonica (general lineage) [1950s onward]
Key Collaborators
- Lurrie Bell - son and frequent musical partner on guitar (multiple albums including 2007 Delmark live set) [1970s-2007]
- Billy Branch - fellow harmonica player in supergroup (Harp Attack! with Junior Wells and James Cotton (1990)) [1990]
- James Cotton - harmonica peer in collaborative album (Harp Attack! (1990)) [1990]
- Junior Wells - harmonica peer in collaborative album (Harp Attack! (1990)) [1990]
- Willie Dixon - band leader with Chicago Blues All-Stars (various performances and recordings) [1970s]
- Muddy Waters - band member (live performances) [1970-1971]
Artists Influenced
- Billy Branch - mentored and groomed as successor in Willie Dixon's band (replaced Bell in Chicago Blues All-Stars) [1970s]
- Lurrie Bell - father directly influenced son's blues guitar career (co-billed albums) [1970s-2007]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Second Nature | 2004-06-29 | Album |
| Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa and Lurrie's Home | 2008-05-09 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Wrapped up In Love (The Greatest Acoustic Blues)
- Five Long Years (The Finest Southern Blues)
- Short Dress Woman (101 Delta Blues)
- What My Mama Told Me (Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa and Lurrie's Home)
- Here I Go Again (Guitar Blues 101)
- The Road Is So Long
- Gettin' up (Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa and Lurrie's Home)
- Baby Please Don't Go (Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa and Lurrie's Home)
- Bell's Back (Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa and Lurrie's Home)
- Last Night (Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa and Lurrie's Home)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Carey Bell, Billy Branch, James has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2025 | 15:13 | Black Nightfrom Harp Attack! | The Blues Breakdown | |
| Dec 9, 2025 | 04:27 | I`m A Business Manfrom Good Luck Man | Overnight Music - Tuesday | |
| Nov 17, 2025 | 15:44 | I'M GONNA BUY ME A TRAIN TICKETfrom CAREY BELL'S BLUES HARP | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe |