Billy Boy Arnold - Dirty Mother Fucker

Billy Boy Arnold is a leading American blues harmonica player, guitarist, singer and songwriter! His real name is William Arnold.

Born in Chicago on 1935, he began playing harmonica as a child, and in 1948 received informal lessons from his near neighbour John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, shortly before his death. Arnold made his recording debut in 1952 with "Hello Stranger" on the small Cool label, a record company which gave him the nickname "Billy Boy".

In the early 1950s, he joined forces with street musician Ellias McDaniel and played harmonica on the March 1955 recording of the Bo Diddley song "I'm a Man" released by Checker Records.

Arnold signed a solo recording contract with Vee-Jay Records, recording the originals of "I Wish You Would" and "I Ain’t Got You". In the late 1950s Arnold continued to play in Chicago clubs, and in 1963 he recorded a LP, "More Blues From The South Side", for the Prestige label, but as playing opportunities dried up he pursued a parallel career as a bus driver and, later, parole officer.

By the 1970s Arnold had begun playing festivals, touring Europe, and recording again. He recorded a session for BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel on 5 October 1977. In 1993 he released the album "Back Where I Belong" on Alligator Records, followed by "Eldorado Cadillac" (1995) and "Boogie ’n’ Shuffle" (2001), "Chicago Blues Harp" (2003), "Consolidated Mojo" (2005), "Dirty Mother" (2007), "Billy Boy Sings Sonny Boy" (2008)....


Billy Boy knows the Blues...