Welcome to the official website of Chicago Blues Legend and Electro-Fi Recording Artist BILLY BOY ARNOLD. A founding father of the Chicago Blues sound of the 1950’s, and a major influence on the British Blues Invasion of the 1960’s, William “Billy Boy” Arnold remains an active and vital artist still contributing his dynamic talents to the 21st century Blues Scene.

September 2008

Billy Boy Arnold is featured on the first Talkin' Blues video podcast. You can view this podcast from you iTunes store by clicking here. (You will require iTunes on your computer to access this podcast.) The podcast can be viewed from your computer or downloaded to your video iPod by subscribing to the podcast series.

You can also view the video by going to http://talkinblues.podbean.com.

July 2008

Billy Boy Arnold was presented with the prestigious RIVER ROAD Award on Friday July 4th at the 2008 Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. The award is in recognition of Billy Boy's 50 year plus contribution to Blues Music. Billy Boy and Jody Williams headlined the Festival on the Friday night.

Billy Boy's new Electro-Fi release "Billy Boy Sings Sonny Boy" is garnering both great reviews and major radio airplay. LIVING BLUES proclaims the CD as "a heartfelt tribute that both traditionalists and modernists should appreciate as Billy Boy is almost eerily reminiscent of Sonny Boy Williamson in his prime". BLUES REVUE praises the ensemble playing by the wonderful band: Mel Brown, Billy Flynn, Bob Stroger and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith as well as Billy Boy's vocals, " One point that needs to be addressed is just how good a singer Arnold is. His voice has grown stronger through the decades, with tone and phrasing always right on the mark. His harp work is almost incidental to his splendid vocal delivery. The disc runs 71 minutes, and there's not a moment wasted".

The June/July issue of BLUES REVUE features an excellent feature article by BILL DAHL on Billy Boy and his relationship with his mentor JOHN LEE "Sonny Boy" WILLIAMSON. The June - September CHICAGO BLUES TODAY issue of LIVING BLUES carries a fascinating story by SCOTT BARRETTA entitled "BILLY BOY ARNOLD Remembering Chicago" in which Scott and photographer Bill Steber are taken on a tour of Chicago Blues landmarks like the 708 Club and Big Bill Broonzy's Apartment Building by Billy Boy. Not just a Blues Legend himself, Billy Boy also possess's a razor sharp memory and no one can give you the inside scoop on the Chicago Blues scene from the 1940's to present day better than Billy Boy.

“Billy Boy Arnold is a powerful purveyor, innovator and certified master of the Chicago Blues sound. Combining his soulful vocals with poignant harp riffs and crafty songwriting, Billy Boy’s musicianship authenticates his place among the great harmonica players in history”. – BLUES REVUE.