The Bill Blue Story
Born in Aberdeen, North Carolina, and raised in Yorktown, Virginia, Bill Blue first picked up a guitar when he was in school in Richmond, Virginia. Playing along with records at first, Blue began to develop his unique slide guitar technique.
A chance meeting with Arthur (Big Boy) Crudup --who wrote Elvis Presley’s hit “That’s Alright Mama”-- ignited Bluel’s life-long passion for Blues music.
With the British music invasion of the 60’s and 70’s bringing R&B bands like The Rolling Stones to the USA, interest in Blues music grew and Arthur Crudup who’d been working as a farm hand, asked Blue to put together a live band.
Crudup and Blue toured the USA, most notably opening for Bonnie Raitt on her first American tour.
After Crudup died in 1974, Blue went out on his own and for a decade toured extensively, sharing the stage with BB King, ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Johnny Winter, and countless others at Blues festivals across the USA.
Blue made 2 LPs for the Feather label before signing with the prestigious Adelphi record label, one of the best blues labels in the US. Blue made 2 LP’s for Adelphi and the worldwide distribution the label offered gave him the chance to be heard around the world.
In the eighties, tired of the road, Blue stopped touring and moved to Key West.
He continued playing at the legendary Sloppy Joe’s with his band, The Nervous Guys, and was the first musician to ever play at the famous Green Parrot, now known worldwide as an outstanding live music venue.
Armed with some great songs, his unique style of slide guitar playing, and a gravelly voice that had deepened with age, Blue went into the studio for two live rhythm track sessions with drummer Richard Crooks (a New York player whose credits included playing with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Dr. John, and Paul Simon), Nashville guitarist Michael McAdam, London guitarist Matt Backer, Key West Drummer Mick Kilgos,and various other members of Blue’s live band.
The resulting LP, “Mojolation,” garnered stellar reviews, worldwide airplay, and reached No.1 on ReverbNation’s Blues chart and on the British Blues Broadcaster’s chart.
“Mojolation” was released on October 13th 2013 at a record release party at The Green Parrot. In honor of Bill’s new record, his charity work, his being the “elder statesman” of the Key West music scene, the City Of Key West declared October 13th to be Bill Blue Day in perpetuity.
A second album, “The King of Crazy Town,” was also released by Conch Town Records.
