{"id":2169754,"date":"2025-11-21T03:41:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T03:41:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2169754"},"modified":"2025-11-21T03:41:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T03:41:20","slug":"blues-harp-legend-billy-branch-releases-new-album-offering-message-music-with-a-groove","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/blues-harp-legend-billy-branch-releases-new-album-offering-message-music-with-a-groove\/","title":{"rendered":"Blues Harp Legend Billy Branch Releases New Album Offering &#8216;Message Music With A Groove&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>HYDE PARK \u2014 \u201cIf you don\u2019t love the blues, you probably don\u2019t love your mama.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>This might sound like a comedic aside uttered on the opening tune for legendary Chicago blues harpist Billy Branch\u2019s latest album, \u201cBlues Is My Biography.\u201d\u00a0But it also reflects an often-overlooked fact: Blues is indeed the mother of American popular music and any disregard or disrespect basically amounts to neglecting a parent who nurtured you. Never fear, Billy Branch and his potent new album are here to get you together.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are the things I wanted to express my whole career,\u201d Branch said of the 11 mostly socio-political tunes he wrote for the release. The harpist boasts a landmark career that spans 20 years, with appearances on 300 albums (including notables like Taj Mahal, Lonnie Brooks, R.E.M. and Lou Rawls), an Emmy, three Grammy nominations, three Blues Music Awards and two Living Blues Critics Awards. <\/p>\n<p>His new album, \u201cBlues Is My Biography\u201d\u00a0\u2014 the first offering for the new Rosa\u2019s Lounge Records label \u2014 serves as a dynamic map for his musical path.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-1    \">\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"\/>\n<p>\u201cHole in Your Soul,\u201d the previously mentioned high-energy opener, serves up a funky history lesson with the aid of blues icon Bobby Rush.\u00a0Citing the differences between jazz and blues and the importance of legends like Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Koko Taylor, the track guides listeners through a journey of blues discovery.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles, Branch seemed to be followed by the blues as he grew up. Although he wouldn\u2019t hear his first blues song until he was 17,\u00a0he randomly bought a harmonica when he was 10 years old.\u00a0He had never seen or heard one played, but as soon as he put the harmonica to his mouth, he was immediately able to blow out tunes. He played Christmas carols and songs he heard on the radio; the small instrument was his constant companion.<\/p>\n<p>Branch moved back to Chicago to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago in the summer of 1969, the same year as the precursor to the first Chicago Blues Fest. Determined to create a more positive image for the city after the disastrous 1968 Democratic\u00a0National Convention, the mayor tapped famed Chicago blues musician, producer and songwriter Willie Dixon and Murphy Dunne (\u201cThe Blues Brothers\u201d) to organize a free blues concert. The 10-hour show featured a dazzling lineup of blues stars like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, Big Mama Thornton and Big Walter Horton. There, Branch not only heard his first blues songs but witnessed his future mentors \u2014 Dixon, Wells and Horton \u2014 in action.<\/p>\n<p>Branch played his harp everywhere, on the bus, on the \u201cL\u201d, in the streets and in hallways headed to class.\u00a0The new album\u2019s stylish blues ballad \u201cThe Harmonica Man\u201d\u00a0references the name neighborhood kids gave him and his determination to perfect his talents.<\/p>\n<p>All that practice paid off six years later, in 1975, when he joined the Willie Dixon Chicago Blues All Stars and performed around the world. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy time with Willie Dixon was the highlight of my entire career,\u201d he said. \u201cWillie lived, ate, drank, slept the blues. He taught me the cultural relevance of the music for African Americans and the world. The British invasion is a direct result of the blues.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>By 1977, Branch had founded his group, the Sons of the Blues, and started writing songs and albums. Branch would go on to collaborate with all the influential musicians of the genre and beyond.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wWBImvsHwPA\" data-id=\"wWBImvsHwPA\" data-query=\"feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues &#039;Begging  for Change&quot; Ramova Theatre Chicago Blues Festival 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wWBImvsHwPA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Blasting out with riveting power, new track \u201cBeggin\u2019 For Change\u201d showcases his best collab yet, with Chicago Blues royalty Shemekia Copeland and Ronnie Baker Brooks adding soulful vocals and guitar riffs on the political tune lamenting the harsh state of the world.<\/p>\n<p>As a passionate ambassador for the blues, Branch has taken the music everywhere from China, Africa, Australia, Europe and South America as well as Chicago classrooms with his award-winning \u201cBlues in Schools\u201d Program. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nadqF0kuqMc\" data-id=\"nadqF0kuqMc\" data-query=\"start=4&amp;feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/nadqF0kuqMc\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"YouTube video\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" nopin=\"nopin\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Taking the blues to America&#039;s schools\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nadqF0kuqMc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>But he doesn\u2019t always stick to just blues; he likes to be innovative with his sound, occasionally mixing in other elements.\u00a0\u201cBallad of the Million Man\u201d chronicles the 1995 unity event with a rollicking reggae beat, and the swaggering \u201cHow You Livin\u201d adds hip-hop influences. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-2    \">\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not all straight Chicago blues but they\u2019re all bluesy,\u201d is how Branch described the songs on the new record. \u201cI came up on Motown, the Stones, Hendrix and Peter, Paul and Mary. I like to mix things up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The album closes with a sizzling instrumental, \u201cReturn of the Roaches,\u201d highlighting Branch\u2019s dizzying virtuosity. A\u00a0new take on a silly tune he and his band included in their sets, it recalls the classic foot-stomping blues of Little Walter, closing the music circle from contemporary to old school. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve finally been able to express what\u2019s been in my heart and soul for decades,\u201d Branch said. \u201cIt\u2019s message music with a groove.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Branch has some record release events scheduled to celebrate \u201cBlues Is My Biography.\u201d On Friday, he and the Sons of the Blues will perform at Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. More info <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/events.uchicago.edu\/event\/billy-branch-record-release-concert\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Then on Dec. 19, Branch and his band will play a record release party at Rosa\u2019s, 3420 W. Armitage Ave. More information and ticket information is available <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rosaslounge.com\/events\/125142\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-primary-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-primary-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p><strong>Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"pmdelayedscript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" data-no-optimize=\"1\" data-no-defer=\"1\" data-no-minify=\"1\">\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n\t\t{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n\t\tif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n\t\tn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n\t\ts.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n\t\t'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '1320543462033816');\n\t\tfbq('track', 'PageView', {\"page_title\":\"Blues Harp Legend Billy Branch Releases New Album Offering &#8216;Message Music With A Groove&#8217;\",\"user_role\":\"guest\",\"event_url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blockclubchicago.org\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/20\\\/blues-harp-legend-billy-branch-releases-new-album-offering-message-music-with-a-groove\",\"post_type\":\"post\",\"post_id\":952009});\n\t\t<\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source blockclubchicago.org \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HYDE PARK \u2014 \u201cIf you don\u2019t love the blues, you probably don\u2019t love your mama.\u201d This might sound like a comedic aside uttered on the opening tune for legendary Chicago blues harpist Billy Branch\u2019s latest album, \u201cBlues Is My Biography.\u201d\u00a0But it also reflects an often-overlooked fact: Blues is indeed the mother of American popular music [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2169755,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[22220],"class_list":["post-2169754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-arts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Blues-Harp-Legend-Billy-Branch-Releases-New-Album-Offering-Message.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2169754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2169754"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2169754\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2169756,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2169754\/revisions\/2169756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2169755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2169754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2169754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2169754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}