Lurrie Bell

Biography

Lurrie Bell was born on December 13, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois, to renowned blues harmonica player Carey Bell. He began his musical journey at age five when he picked up his father's guitar and taught himself to play, later receiving formal training from Chicago blues legends including Eddy Clearwater, Big Walter Horton, and Eddie Taylor. His early years were shaped by experiences in the American South, where he played gospel music in church with his brothers as part of a group called "The Ding Dongs," though the church discouraged blues as "devil's music." By his early teens, Bell had returned to Chicago and immersed himself in the city's vibrant blues scene, playing with boogie-woogie pianist Lovie Lee and eventually joining Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars at age 17, where he realized his calling to dedicate his life to the blues.

Bell's early career trajectory was meteoric. At 17, he co-founded the Sons of Blues with Billy Branch and Freddie Dixon (son of Willie Dixon), and made his recording debut in 1977 on his father's album "Heartaches and Pain" and Eddie C. Campbell's "King of the Jungle." From 1978 to 1982, he toured internationally with "Queen of the Blues" Koko Taylor, gaining international recognition for his incendiary guitar playing and passionate vocals that attracted attention from Rolling Stone and the New York Times. His elegant, intense guitar style maintained the heritage of post-war Chicago blues icons like Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Eddie C. Campbell while establishing his own unique voice.

Despite his promising start, Bell faced significant personal challenges throughout the 1980s, including mental illness, drug abuse, and homelessness. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and admitted to a psychiatric institution, but with proper medication and support, he began a remarkable comeback in 1995 with the well-received album "Mercurial Son" on the Delmark label. This marked the beginning of a prolific period that included critically acclaimed releases like "Cutting Heads" (2001) and "The Devil Ain't Got No Music" (2012), which won the Prix du Blues Award from L'Academie du Jazz. Bell has appeared on over 50 recordings as a leader or featured sideman, recorded 15 solo albums across 39 years, and earned a 2009 Grammy nomination and 2015 Blues Foundation recognition as Best Traditional Male Blues Artist. His resilience, technical mastery, and authentic connection to Chicago blues tradition have solidified his legacy as one of the leading lights in contemporary blues.

Fun Facts

• Lurrie Bell taught himself to play guitar after picking up his father's instrument at age five, demonstrating prodigious natural talent that would define his career.
• Despite the church of his childhood forbidding blues as 'devil's music,' Bell went on to record an acclaimed album called 'The Devil Ain't Got No Music' (2012) that blended acoustic blues with the gospel songs of his childhood, winning the prestigious Prix du Blues Award from France's L'Academie du Jazz.
• Bell's comeback album 'Mercurial Son' (1995) marked a turning point after years of battling schizophrenia, drug abuse, and homelessness—he was stabilized with proper psychiatric medication and went on to record seven gold-standard albums for Delmark Records.
• At age 17, Bell was already performing on stage with Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars and had made his recording debut, establishing himself as one of the youngest rising stars in the 'New Generation of Chicago Blues' movement of the 1970s.

Associated Acts

• Chicago Blues: A Living History

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Lovie Lee - Boogie-woogie pianist and Muddy Waters' accompanist who became a quasi-grandfather figure to young Lurrie, teaching him blues fundamentals (Early Chicago blues training and mentorship) [Early 1970s]
• Willie Dixon - Legendary blues composer and bandleader whose Chicago Blues All-Stars provided Lurrie's professional breakthrough and solidified his commitment to blues (Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars) [Age 17 (1975-1976)]
• Eddy Clearwater - Chicago blues guitarist and singer who influenced Lurrie's guitar technique and blues interpretation (Direct musical training and collaboration) [1970s]
• Big Walter Horton - Influential harmonica player who contributed to Lurrie's understanding of blues musicianship (Musical mentorship) [1970s]
• Eddie Taylor - Legendary Chicago blues guitarist whose style influenced Lurrie's guitar approach (Guitar technique and blues heritage training) [1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Carey Bell - Father and renowned blues harmonica player; collaborated on recordings and performances ("Heartaches and Pain" (1977), "Gettin' Up – Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa's and Lurrie's Home" (2007)) [1977-2007]
• Billy Branch - Harmonica player and co-founder of Sons of Blues; long-term collaborator and frequent musical partner (Sons of Blues band, "Living Chicago Blues Vol. 3" (1978), Grammy-nominated "Chicago Blues: A Living History" (2009)) [1977-present]
• Koko Taylor - "Queen of the Blues" who featured Lurrie as guitarist and bandmember during international tours (Koko Taylor's Blues Machine) [1978-1982 (4-year touring period)]
• Freddie Dixon - Son of Willie Dixon; co-founder of Sons of Blues band (Sons of Blues, "Living Chicago Blues Vol. 3" (1978)) [1977-1978]
• Eddie C. Campbell - Blues guitarist and singer; featured Lurrie on recording debut ("King of the Jungle" album (1977)) [1977]
• Billy Boy Arnold - Blues harmonica player and vocalist; collaborated on Grammy-nominated project ("Chicago Blues: A Living History" (2009)) [2009]
• John Primer - Chicago blues guitarist; collaborated on Grammy-nominated recording ("Chicago Blues: A Living History" (2009)) [2009]
• Orgone - L.A. funk band that collaborated with Lurrie on recent album ("She's a Burgler" (first album in 7 years)) [Recent (post-2018)]
• Steve Ferrone - Drummer for Tom Petty and the Average White Band; featured on recent collaboration ("She's a Burgler" with Orgone) [Recent]
• Sunnyland Slim - Legendary Chicago blues pianist; recorded with Lurrie (Various recordings) [1970s-1980s]
• Louisiana Red - Blues guitarist and singer; collaborated with Lurrie (Various recordings) [1970s-1980s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Blues in My Soul (Blues in My Soul)
2. Windy City Blues
3. This Worrisome Feeling in My Heart (Can't Shake This Feeling)
4. The Sky Is Crying (Set Me Free)
5. Got My Eyes On You (The Blues Had A Baby)
6. The Road Is So Long (Second Nature)
7. I Feel so Good (Blues in My Soul)
8. Smokin' Dynamite
9. The Road Is So Long (Alligator Records 45th Anniversary Collection)
10. Key To The Highway (Second Nature)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blues, #chicago-blues