Eric Bibb

Biography

Eric Charles Bibb, born on August 16, 1951, in New York City, grew up immersed in the folk music revival of the 1960s, thanks to his father, Leon Bibb, a prominent singer who performed on the Ed Sullivan Show and hosted the TV talent show Someone New, where young Eric played guitar in the house band at age 16. Surrounded by musical luminaries like Pete Seeger, Odetta, Josh White, Judy Collins, and Woody Guthrie as frequent house guests, Bibb received his first acoustic guitar at seven and received early guitar advice from Bob Dylan at age 11 to 'keep it simple.' His family was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, with his father attending the March on Washington and meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., shaping Eric's connection between music and social change. He briefly studied psychology and Russian at Columbia University before dropping out at 19 to pursue music in Europe.[1][3][4]

Bibb moved to Paris, where he met guitarist Mickey Baker, who honed his blues guitar skills, then settled in Stockholm, Sweden, immersing himself in pre-war blues and world music influences like Brazilian and West African styles. Returning to his Americana roots—blues, gospel, folk, country, and spirituals—he debuted with Ain't It Grand in 1972 and built a career over five decades, releasing over 40 albums. Key releases include Me to You (1997) with Pops and Mavis Staples and Taj Mahal, Home to Me (1999), and recent works like Dear America (2021) and Ridin' (2023), which charted highly. He has earned three Grammy nominations, including for Migration Blues (2017) and Ridin' (2023), and multiple Blues Music Awards, such as Acoustic Artist of the Year (2012, 2013).[1][2][3][4]

Now based in Helsinki, Finland, Bibb's style is a 'personal gumbo' of fingerpicking blues, ragtime, hokum, country, folk, and gospel, performed as a bluesy troubadour. His literate, historically informed songwriting addresses America's complexities—pain, shame, hope, and wonder—while touring globally and collaborating with top talents, cementing his legacy in blues and roots music.[1][2][5]

Fun Facts

• Bibb met Woody Guthrie as a child and was advised by Bob Dylan at age 11 to 'keep it simple' on guitar, a story he jokes has given him much 'mileage'.[1][4]
• He channeled music from Delta blues guitarist Bukka White for his 2010 album Booker's Guitar.[1]
• Bibb's uncle is John Lewis, the pianist and composer who founded the Modern Jazz Quartet.[4]
• At 16, he played guitar for the Negro Ensemble Company in New York and later studied at Columbia University before dropping out for music.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Mickey Baker - Guitar teacher who focused Bibb's interest on blues guitar (Early training in Paris) [1970]
• Bob Dylan - Gave guitar playing advice to 11-year-old Bibb (Childhood lesson) [1962]
• Leon Bibb - Father and folk singer who immersed him in music scene (House band on TV show Someone New) [1960s]
• Pete Seeger - Folk music inspiration and house guest (Early exposure) [Childhood]
• Odetta - Folk-blues influence and house guest (Early exposure) [Childhood]
• Woody Guthrie - Troubadour inspiration met before his death (Early exposure) [Childhood]
• John Lewis - Uncle, pianist/composer of Modern Jazz Quartet (Familial musical influence) [Lifelong]

Key Collaborators

• Pops Staples - Personal hero, guest appearance (Me to You album) [1997]
• Mavis Staples - Personal hero, guest appearance (Me to You album) [1997]
• Taj Mahal - Personal hero, guest appearance (Me to You album) [1997]
• Bill Lee - Bassist in father's TV show band, later collaborator (Me To You, Friends albums) [1960s, later]
• Eric Gales - Guitarist on singles and album (Whole World's Got The Blues, Dear America) [2021]
• Shaneeka Simon - Singer on single (Born Of A Woman) [2021]
• Ron Carter - Bassist on track inspired by Emmett Till (Emmett's Ghost) [2021]
• Glen Scott - Producer/co-writer (Dear America) [2019-2021]
• Steve Jordan - Drummer guest (Dear America) [2019]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down (Sisters & Brothers)
2. We Don't Care (Brothers in Bamako)
3. With My Maker I Am One (Booker's Guitar)
4. Rocking Chair (Booker's Guitar)
5. Goin Down That Road Feelin´ Bad (Blues, Ballads & Work Songs)
6. Whole World's Got The Blues (Dear America)
7. L.A. (Brothers in Bamako)
8. Shine On (Diamond Days)
9. Where The Green Grass Grows (Good Stuff)
10. Bessie's Advice (Sisters & Brothers)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #classic-pop-and-rock, #folk