Born September 15th, 1935 in Chicago, William “Billy Boy” Arnold is best known as one of the prime architects of the Electric Chicago Blues sound of the 1950’s as well as a major influence on the British Blues revival of the 1960’s. He remains an active and vital Blues artist here in the 21st century both touring and recording on a regular basis.

As a youngster of thirteen he was captivated by the music of the Original Sonny Boy, John Lee Williamson and visited Sonny Boy at his home in Chicago for a series of informal harmonica lessons, just before Williamson’s untimely death in 1948. “That first visit was the most exciting day of my life, and made me determined to become a Bluesman” states Billy Boy. His 2008 Electro-Fi release “Billy Boy Sings Sonny Boy” is a heartfelt tribute to his musical mentor, released 60 years after their first meeting.

Billy Boy’s recording debut was a 45 rpm “Hello Stranger b/w I Ain’t Got No Money” released in 1952 on the local Chicago label Cool, who also gave him the nickname “Billy Boy”. After joining forces with street musician Ellas McDaniel a.k.a. Bo Diddley they made the move to Chess, where Billy Boy played harp on the March 1955 classic “I’m a Man”. Not content to be a sideman and wanting to express his own musical ideas, Billy Boy walked just down Michigan Avenue, Chicago’s Record Row and signed with the VeeJay label where he recorded the original versions of “I Wish You Would” and “I Ain’t Got You” both were later covered by Eric Clapton and The Yardbirds. “I Wish You Would” was also covered by David Bowie on his 1973 LP “Pin Ups”.

The early 1960’s were a period of transition for Billy Boy, on the positive side he recorded his first LP “More Blues from the Southside” for the Prestige label. On the down side live Blues music gigs began to dry up in Chicago, a difficult adjustment for many artists Billy Boy included, who had worked the club circuit steadily since the mid 50’s with first rate bands including his brother bassist Jerome Arnold and guitarist Jody Williams. Billy Boy found work driving a bus and as a parole officer for the State of Illinois.

By the early 1970’s Billy Boy was enjoying the Blues revival touring Europe and the U.K. In 1993 he released “Back Where I Belong” on Alligator, followed in 1995 by “Eldorado Cadillac”. In 2001 he released the Duke Robillard produced “Boogie Shuffle” on Stony Plain. In 2005 he signed with Electro-Fi Records and released “Consolidated Mojo” originally produced and recorded in 1992 by Electro-Fi label mate Mark Hummel following a month long Harmonica Blowout Tour of California, the disc also features the guitar work of a young Rusty Zinn. 2008 brings us “Billy Boy Sings Sonny Boy” where Billy Boy is joined by a stellar cast of fellow Blues Legends, Willy “Big Eyes” Smith, Bob Stroger, Billy Flynn and Mel Brown.

“This album is my way of celebrating the music of the original Sonny Boy, John Lee Williamson a man who revolutionized the Blues” – BILLY BOY ARNOLD, Chicago 2008.