Lurrie Bell was born to play the blues. His famous father, harpist Carey Bell, had him working out on guitar as a wee lad. By 1977, he was recording with his dad and playing behind a variety of established stars, tabbed by many observers at the time as a sure star on the rise. But personal problems took their toll on his great potential; Bell's recorded output and live performances were inconsistent in the '80s and early '90s. Among the highlights of Lurrie's discography: three tracks in tandem with harpist Billy Branch under the Sons of Blues banner (Lurrie was a founding member of the band) from Alligator's first batch of 1978 Living Chicago Blues anthologies and a 1984 collaboration with his old man for Rooster Blues, Son of a Gun (the latter remains unavailable on CD). Then there's his set for Delmark, Mercurial Son, as bizarre a contemporary blues album as you're likely to encounter. Bell followed Mercurial Son with the more straightforward 700 Blues in the spring of 1997; The Blues Had a Baby appeared two years later. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
For more on Lurrie, check out:
ChicagoBluegrass.com
Centerstage Chicago
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