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This time, Jontavious Willis selected veteran bluesman Billy Boy Arnold as the person deserving our attention. Here’s what Alligator records says about him. Unlike most Chicago bluesman, William Arnold was born in Chicago (in 1935, on B.B. King’s 10th birthday).
His debut recording was “I Ain’t Got No Money” b/w “Hello Stranger,” released in 1953. This is the 2001 remake of “Hello Stranger,” from Billy Boy Arnold: Boogie ‘n’ Shuffle, with Billy Boy Arnold (vocal, harmonica), “Sax” Gordon Beadle (saxophone), Duke Robillard (guitar, producer), Matt McCabe (piano), John Packer (bass), Jeffery McAllister (drums). If I could have actually found the 1953 release, I would have posted it in a second; the person who posted this gave the wrong info.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIi4PDQXLkIHere’s a duet rendition of his “Boogie ’n’ Shuffle,” filmed in September 2016 at a very nice place, the City Winery, about 200 feet from where I work (I was aware of the concert but couldn’t make it, for the same reason I’ve been a little scarce on the Forum recently; it was busy then and it’s busy lately).
In his early years, he hung out with Bo Diddley and Jody Williams, playing on the streets, especially Maxwell St. He played harmonica on Bo Diddley’s March 2, 1955, demo recording of “I’m a Man.”
In 1955, he also played harmonica on Bo Diddley’s “She’s Fine She’s Mine” (the B-side to his second single, “Diddley Daddy”). Clifton James (drums) and Jerome Green (maracas) complete the lineup. The melody of this song is a precursor to Willie Cobbs’ “You Don’t Love Me,” which you probably know from the Allman Brothers cover.
Billy Boy Arnold is probably best known in the rock world for two songs, “I Ain’t Got You” and “I Wish You Would,” both were covered by the Yardbirds; then David Bowie covered the Yardbirds version of “I Wish You Would.” In the 1970s, Billy remade both of them with English rockers Tony McPhee & The Groundhogs (anyone familiar with the compilations of English blues is familiar with their name, Tony McPhee is aka T.S. McPhee).
His debut album was called More Blues on the South Side (1964, the record label, Prestige, had just released Homesick James’ More Blues on the South Side, that must be the reason for the title). Billy Boy Arnold (vocal, harmonica), Mighty Joe Young (guitar), Lafayette Leake (piano), Jerome Arnold (bass), Junior Blackmon (drums), recorded Chicago, December 30, 1963
Ten Million Dollars from 1984 is another favorite of mine. Billy Boy Arnold (vocal, harmonica), Jimmy Johnson, John “Mad Dog” Watkins (guitars), Saint James Bryant (piano), Larry Exum (bass), Fred Grady (drums), recorded Paris, December 18, 1984
In addition to the guitarists I already mentioned above, Bo Diddley, Jody Williams, Mighty Joe Young, Jimmy Johnson, John “Mad Dog” Watkins and Tony S. McPhee he also played and recorded with the cream of Chicago blues guitarists, Eddie Taylor and Louis Myers, Sammy Lawhorn and Lacey Gibson (all can be found on playlist at bottom). Here he is on his “She Fooled Me” and “I Wish You Would,” backed by Eddie Taylor (guitar), Blind John Davis (piano), Jump Jackson (drums).
I hope you enjoy this and it makes you want to dig into Billy Boy’s music. Here’s an interview and a playlist I started this week with this presentation in mind. I’m going to be adding to it and shaping it for a while (live footage is at the top).
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Be sure to check his website to find out where Jontavious is playing (link in first mention of his name at top). His debut album, Blue Metamorphosis, can also be found there.He’ll be playing and teaching in West Virginia in July. I’m going to be there, at the Augusta Heritage Center’s Blues & Swing Week , from Monday, July 22 to 27, in Elkins, WV.
Here’s my playlist of his music, including three videos I was present to make, but subscribe to his channel to keep up-to-date.
Don D.
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Hi Antigua, John, thanks for commenting and the kind words. It’s all my pleasure, I’m really glad to hear you’re enjoying this and getting something out of it.
I got one thing wrong, I forgot to mention something else, and I just found out about some concerts Jontavious will be opening for TajMo in the Midwest this August (I’ll make a separate post with more details when I get them). I’ve heard him live a few times and he’s great.
Aug 7 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theater
Aug 8 – Madison, WI – Overture Hall
Aug 9 – Champaign, IL – Virginia Theater
Aug 10 – Joliet, IL – Rialto Square Theater
Aug 11 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft TheatreMy correction is that Homesick James’ Prestige album from 1964 was called Blues on the South Side. Billy Boy Arnold’s album came out soon after that and was called More Blues on the South Side. Now it makes sense.
The thing I wanted to mention was that Billy Boy Arnold grew up around the corner from John Lee Williamson, the original Sonny Boy Williamson. He heard him playing and asked him to show him some things and John Lee Williamson agreed. The ages I’ve seen stated for when he asked vary between just before his teens and in his early teens. Either way, one of the early masters of the harp was his early mentor. Sadly and very unfortunately, John Lee Williamson was murdered not long after they met. Rockin’ Johnny Burgin plays guitar on this video.
Billy Boy Arnold performs Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Black Gal” in Aurora, IL (video at link, thumbnail doesn’t draw).I’ll probably think of something else as soon as I post.
Don D.
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