Chicago Blues harp player Carey Bell was born on this day in 1936 in Macon, MS. Bell is a bonafide member on the honor roll of Chicago harp players. He was born Carey Bell Harrington in (of course) Mississippi, where he began playing harmonica at age 8. By the age of 13, Carey was playing professionally with his Godfather, Lovie Lee. Lee brought Carey to Chicago with him in 1956, but gigs were scarce, and Carey took up bass, playing for Robert Nighthawk, Johnny Young and his mentor, Big Walter Horton. In 1969, Bell made his debut album (as harp player/leader), Carey Bell`s Blues Harp. If you can find it, buy it. Bell then served invaluable time with Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon during the 70s. Alligator Records has been responsible for Bell`s best recorded works, starting with the excellent collaboration with Walter Horten in 1972. Another gem is the 4-pronged Harp Attack with Junior Wells, James Cotton, and Billy Branch all sharing the harmonica spotlight. His best album, IMHO, is Deep Down. Bell was born Carey Bell Harrington in Macon, Mississippi.[4] As a child, Bell was intrigued by the music of Louis Jordan. Bell wanted a saxophone in order to be like his hero Jordan; however, Bells family could not afford a saxophone he had to settle for the harmonica, colloquially known as a Mississippi saxophone. Soon Bell was attracted by the blues harmonica greats: DeFord Bailey, Big Walter Horton, Marion Little Walter Jacobs, and Sonny Boy Williamson I and II. Bell taught himself to play. By the time he was eight, he was quite proficient on the instrument. When he was thirteen, Bell joined his pianist godfather Lovie Lees blues band. Chicago In September 1956, Lovie Lee convinced Bell to go with him to Chicago.[4] Not long after arriving, Bell went to the Club Zanzibar, where Little Walter was appearing. Bell met Walter and later learned some harp playing from him and his main Chicago teacher, Big Walter Horton.[4] To help further his chances of employment as a musician, Bell learned how to play the electric bass from Hound Dog Taylor.[5] Despite Bells learning from some of the greatest blues harp players of the genre, he arrived in Chicago at an unfortunate time. The demand for harp players was decreasing there as electric guitar became the prominent blues instrument. To pay the bills, Bell continued to play bass and joined several bands as a bassist. In the late 1960s, he appeared regularly on the west side of Chicago with guitarists Eddie Taylor and Royal Johnson, playing both harmonica and bass. In 1969, Bell toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival, and played at the Royal Albert Hall in London, appearing on a live recording of the event. Debut through 1980s In 1969, Delmark Records in Chicago released Bells debut LP, Carey Bells Blues Harp.[4] Bell played with Muddy Waters in late 1970 and 1971 and later with Willie Dixons Chicago Blues All-Stars.[4] In 1972, Bell teamed up with Big Walter in the studio and released Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell for Alligator Records. A year later Bell released a solo project entitled Last Night for ABC Bluesway. Bell continued to play with Dixon as well as with his own groups, and in 1978, Bell was featured on the Grammy-nominated album Living Chicago Blues on Alligator. Also, in the 1970s, Bell appeared on two Bob Riedy Blues Band recordings.[6] During the 1980s Bell continued to record for various labels and to tour. In 1990, Bell teamed up with fellow harpists Junior Wells, James Cotton and Billy Branch to record Harp Attack!.[4] A modern Blues classic, Harp Attack! became one of Alligator Recordss best selling albums.[5] Alligator years Despite years in the business and work with Alligator, Bells first full-length solo album for the label was not until Deep Down, released in 1995. In 1997, Bell released the second album on the label Good Luck Man. Second Nature (originally recorded in Finland a few years earlier) followed in 2004; an album with his guitarist son, Lurrie Bell (who shared the guitar duties with Carl Weathersby on Deep Down). In 1998, Bell was awarded the Blues Music Award for Traditional Male Artist Of The Year. In 2007, Delmark Records released a live set by Bell, accompanied by a band which included his son Lurrie, guitarist Scott Cable, Kenny Smith, Bob Stroger and Joe Thomas. Death Carey Bell died of heart failure on 6 May 2007 in Chicago.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:23:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015