Big Bill Morganfield
Encyclopedia
William "Big Bill" Morganfield (born June 19, 1956) is an American blues
singer and guitarist
, who is the son of Muddy Waters
.
, but had little contact with his famous father, whose real name was McKinley Morganfield. Instead he was raised in Southern Florida by his grandmother, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia
. As a child he listened to his father's records, but also to more popular fare such as The Jackson Five. He came to music later in life, having first worked as a teacher after earning a bachelors degree in English from Tuskegee University
and another in Communications from Auburn University
. He did not begin playing music seriously until after his father's death in 1983, and then spent six years studying guitar. A well-received performance with Lonnie Mack
at Atlanta's Center Stage convinced Morganfield that his career move was a good one, but dissatisfied with his craft, he returned to studying traditional blues forms and songwriting while continuing work as a teacher.
His first independent album Nineteen Years Old: A Tribute to Muddy Waters was put out on Taxim Records in 1997. It was produced by Billy Earl McClelland and recorded in Memphis
. After signing with Blind Pig Records
, Morganfield began releasing albums on that label in 1999. The first, Rising Son, was released to popular and critical acclaim. Guitar Player
magazine's reviewer expressed a belief that Morganfield's album would have brought a smile to his father's face. In 2000, he won the W.C. Handy Award for Best New Blues Artist. The title cut was featured in the 2004 film A Love Song for Bobby Long
.
Morganfield recorded Rising Son in Chicago, the site of many of Waters' recording sessions. Bob Margolin
, Waters' guitarist, served as producer
and also appeared on the album. Featured were several of Waters' bandmates, including: drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, pianist Pinetop Perkins
, and harmonica player Paul Oscher
. Also in attendance was blues bassist Robert Stroger, an ex-member of Sunnyland Slim
's band. In 1999 Morganfield appeared at the San Francisco Blues Festival
.
Ramblin' Mind, Morganfield's next album, featured an appearance by Taj Mahal
on two songs, which also featured Billy Branch
on harmonica. Taj Mahal also contributed his original composition "Strong Man Holler" to the album. One of Waters' songs, "You're Gonna Miss Me," was also included. In 2009, Morganfield released the album Born Lover, produced by Bob Margolin
and Brian Bisesi.
In concert, Morganfield performs his own material with an occasional number from his father's work. He also performed at a Kennedy Center Honors
tribute to his father. During the 2000s, Morganfield headlined many festivals and performed at venues around the world.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, who is the son of Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
.
Biography
Morganfield was born in Chicago, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, but had little contact with his famous father, whose real name was McKinley Morganfield. Instead he was raised in Southern Florida by his grandmother, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. As a child he listened to his father's records, but also to more popular fare such as The Jackson Five. He came to music later in life, having first worked as a teacher after earning a bachelors degree in English from Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
and another in Communications from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
. He did not begin playing music seriously until after his father's death in 1983, and then spent six years studying guitar. A well-received performance with Lonnie Mack
Lonnie Mack
Lonnie Mack is an American rock, blues and country guitarist and vocalist....
at Atlanta's Center Stage convinced Morganfield that his career move was a good one, but dissatisfied with his craft, he returned to studying traditional blues forms and songwriting while continuing work as a teacher.
His first independent album Nineteen Years Old: A Tribute to Muddy Waters was put out on Taxim Records in 1997. It was produced by Billy Earl McClelland and recorded in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. After signing with Blind Pig Records
Blind Pig Records
Blind Pig Records is an American blues record label.Blind Pig was formed in 1977 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by Jerry Del Giudice, owner of the Blind Pig Cafe, and his friend Edward Chmelewski. The label is now based in San Francisco...
, Morganfield began releasing albums on that label in 1999. The first, Rising Son, was released to popular and critical acclaim. Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine's reviewer expressed a belief that Morganfield's album would have brought a smile to his father's face. In 2000, he won the W.C. Handy Award for Best New Blues Artist. The title cut was featured in the 2004 film A Love Song for Bobby Long
A Love Song for Bobby Long
A Love Song for Bobby Long is a 2004 American drama film written and directed by Shainee Gabel. The screenplay is based on the novel Off Magazine Street by Ronald Everett Capps.-Plot:...
.
Morganfield recorded Rising Son in Chicago, the site of many of Waters' recording sessions. Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is "Steady Rollin'".-Biography:Bob Margolin was born and raised in Brookline...
, Waters' guitarist, served as producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and also appeared on the album. Featured were several of Waters' bandmates, including: drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, pianist Pinetop Perkins
Pinetop Perkins
Joseph William Perkins , known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues musician, specializing in piano music...
, and harmonica player Paul Oscher
Paul Oscher
Paul Oscher is an American blues singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist.-Background:Oscher was born in Brooklyn, New York...
. Also in attendance was blues bassist Robert Stroger, an ex-member of Sunnyland Slim
Sunnyland Slim
Albert "Sunnyland Slim" Luandrew was an American blues pianist, who was born in the Mississippi Delta, and later moved to Chicago, Illinois, to contribute to that city's post-war scene as a center for blues music...
's band. In 1999 Morganfield appeared at the San Francisco Blues Festival
San Francisco Blues Festival
Debuting in 1973, the San Francisco Blues Festival is the longest running blues festival in the United States. Tom Mazzolini, the event's producer, founded the blues festival to educate the public about the history and evolution of the blues...
.
Ramblin' Mind, Morganfield's next album, featured an appearance by Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
on two songs, which also featured Billy Branch
Billy Branch
Billy Branch is an American blues harmonica player and singer of Chicago blues and harmonica blues.-Career:...
on harmonica. Taj Mahal also contributed his original composition "Strong Man Holler" to the album. One of Waters' songs, "You're Gonna Miss Me," was also included. In 2009, Morganfield released the album Born Lover, produced by Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is "Steady Rollin'".-Biography:Bob Margolin was born and raised in Brookline...
and Brian Bisesi.
In concert, Morganfield performs his own material with an occasional number from his father's work. He also performed at a Kennedy Center Honors
Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. The Honors have been presented annually since 1978 in Washington, D.C., during gala weekend-long events which culminate in a performance for—and...
tribute to his father. During the 2000s, Morganfield headlined many festivals and performed at venues around the world.
Album discography
- 1997 - Nineteen Years Old
- 1999 - Rising Son
- 2001 - Ramblin' Mind
- 2003 - Blues in the Blood
- 2009 - Born Lover