Billy Branch

Billy Branch (born William Earl Branch, October 3, 1951, Great Lakes, Illinois) is an American blues harmonica player and singer of Chicago blues and harmonica blues.

Branch is a three-time Grammy nominee, a retired two-term governor of the Chicago Grammy Chapter, an Emmy Award winner, and a winner of the Addy Award. In addition, he has received numerous humanitarian and music awards.

Branch was born in Great Lakes, Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was five years old. In 1969 he moved to Chicago, where he graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Branch attended the first Chicago Blues Fest, produced by Willie Dixon, in 1969. Six years later, after graduating from the University of Illinois, he was touring with the Chicago Blues All-Stars, led by Willie Dixon. He soon took the place of the harmonica player Carey Bell, when Bell left the All-Stars to form his own band.

In the 1970s, Branch founded his own group, the Sons of Blues, with Lurrie Bell (the son of Carey Bell) on guitar and Freddie Dixon (the son of Willie Dixon) on bass guitar. They recorded for Alligator Records and, after a change in personnel, for Red Beans Records. The new band consisted of Carlos Johnson on guitar and J. W. Williams on vocals and bass guitar. Branch has also recorded for Verve Records and Evidence Records.

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