Remembering Carey Bell

...A blues harp master, Carey Bell has jaw-dropping technique...stunning intensity, elegantly lowdown.

- Chicago Tribune

...Raucous and exuberant in the great Chicago tradition...tender introspection, emotional complexity, sensitivity and tonal control.

- Living Blues Magazine

.....Carey Bell was born on November 14, 1936 in Macon, Mississippi. He dreamed of playing the saxaphone as a child, but his family could not afford one. Carey learned to play the harmonica that his grandfather bought him at the age of eight and often referred to it as his "Mississippi Field Saxaphone."

.....Carey was taking the stage with his godfather, Lovie Lee, by the age of thirteen. At the age of ninteen, Carey packed up his bags and headed to Chicago with Lovie. He perfected his gift by studying under blues legends such as Big Walter Horton, Little Walter Jacobs, and Sonny Boy Williamson II.

Ultimately, Carey crafted his own unique style and sound and went on to play in the bands of Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon before venturing out to make a name for himself as a solo artist.

.....During the 1950's and 60's, Carey learned to play bass guitar, performing with icons Hound Dog Taylor, Honeyboy Edwards, Earl Hooker, and more. By the late 60's, Carey went back to his harmonica and he was signed with Delmark Records in 1969. His recordings are extensive with labels from Delmark to Aligator to JSP, including And This Is Maxwell Street, Carey Bell's Blues Harp, Mellow Down Easy, Deep Down, Good Luck Man, Son of a Gun (with Lurrie Bell), and Second Nature (with Lurrie Bell), to name a few. In 1970, Carey began touring with Muddy Waters and recorded with both Muddy Waters and Steve Winwood in London. Carey soon went solo again and became known as one of the world's greatest legendary harmonica players.