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Carey Bell (1936-2007)

He Originally Wanted a Saxophone

Carey Bell Harrington was born in Macon, Mississippi on November 14, 1936. A fan of Louis Jordan, Carey Bell originally wanted a saxophone. Economic realities forced his grandfather to buy him a harmonica instead. He taught himself to play harmonica by the time he was eight, and began playing professionally with his godfather, pianist Lovie Lee, when he was 13. In 1956, Lovie Lee convinced Carey Bell that Chicago was the place to be for aspiring bluesmen, and on September 12, 1956 they arrived. Almost immediately, Carey Bell went to see Little Walter perform at the Club Zanzibar at 14th and Ashland. The two became friends and Little Walter delighted in showing the youngster some of his tricks. Carey Bell went on to meet and learn from Sonny Boy Williamson II, but it was Big Walter Horton who really bowled him over. Big Walter Horton became Carey Bell's close friend and musical mentor. Carey Bell learned his lessons well but by the late 1950s and early 1960s the gigs were drying up for harp players as the electric guitar began to take over as the predominant instrument of Chicago blues. Carey Bell decided to increase his worth by becoming a bass player (learning the ropes from Hound Dog Taylor). He quickly mastered the instrument and began getting gigs as a bassist with David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Johnny Young, Eddie Taylor, Earl Hooker and Big Walter Horton. While playing bass in Big Walter Horton's band, Carey Bell studied every harp trick in the book first-hand from one of the all-time great harmonica players. Carey Bell, back on harp full-time, recorded behind Earl Hooker in 1968 for Arhoolie. His friend Charlie Musselwhite brought him over to Bob Koester at Delmark Records in 1969, who promptly signed Carey Bell and recorded Carey Bell's Blues Harp. Carey Bell spent 1970-1971 traveling and recording with Muddy Waters (he can be heard on Muddy Waters' The London Sessions and Unk in Funk albums on Chess). Willie Dixon chose Carey Bell for the featured role in his Chicago Blues All Stars, with whom Carey Bell worked regularly throughout the 1970s, both touring and recording. Even though Willie Dixon kept Carey Bell busy, Bell still found time for his own projects. In 1972 he teamed up with his friend Big Walter Horton and recorded what was to be Alligator Records' second-ever release, Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell (AL 4702). In 1973 he made a solo album for ABC Bluesway and was featured in 1978 on Alligator's Grammy-nominated Living Chicago Blues series (both with his own band and playing behind Lovie Lee). By the 1980s Carey Bell was already an established giant among blues harmonica players. He recorded albums as a leader and as a sideman for a variety of labels both in the United States and Europe, and was constantly playing live. In 1990 Carey Bell, along with fellow harpslingers Junior Wells, James Cotton and Billy Branch, got together and recorded the W.C. Handy Award-winning Alligator album, Harp Attack (AL 4790). Carey Bell's hot playing and deep blues vocals helped make the recording a modern blues classic. And the record has become one of Alligator's best-sellers. In 1998, Carey Bell was awarded the Blues Music Award for Traditional Male Artist Of The Year. Carey Bell died of heart failure on May 6, 2007 in Chicago.

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Home → Overview → Blues Artists → Carey Bell