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Big Bill Morganfield

Rising Son

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 19, 1956, Big Bill Morganfield is the son of McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters. Big Bill Morganfield was raised by his grandmother in southern Florida and now resides in the Atlanta area. Muddy Waters wished that one of his kids would follow him and play music, says Big Bill Morganfield. A few years after his father died, Big Bill Morganfield started playing guitar. In the meantime, he used his bachelor's degrees in English from Tuskegee University and Communications from Auburn University to make a living as a teacher. Than he formed a band and was unhappy with the sound of the music. Big Bill Morganfield learned the art of songwriting and to play the blues. Big Bill Morganfield's debut recording, Rising Son was recorded in the "windy city" and produced by Bob Margolin, Muddy Waters' long time guitarist. Other former members of the Muddy Waters Blues Band also joined Big Bill Morganfield in the studio: Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Paul Oscher, Pinetop Perkins, and Robert Stroger. Like his father, Big Bill Morganfield sings with a deep and hard, throaty voice. His Left Hand Blues which chucks along railroad-style over a lazy slide riff, is one of five original songs on Rising Son. He also covers two of his father's songs, Screamin' and Cryin' and Champagne and Reefer. Big Bill Morganfields's continuing success in presenting a new Morganfield Blues music into the next century that would certainly make his father proud.

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