January Blues Festival & the Little Walter Foundation, Chicago presents
A Celebration of the life and music of LITTLE WALTER
featuring BILLY BRANCH & THE SONS OF BLUES
+ special guest: MARION DIAZ REACCO (Little Walter’s Daughter)
+ support: GILES ROBSON BAND
“The King of All Post-War Blues Harpists“ – Bill Dahl
American blues musician, singer-songwriter Little Walter started out as a part of the Muddy Waters Band between 1948-1952. Upon going solo Little Walter achieved a slew of hits such as “Juke”, “My Babe”, “Boom, Boom Out Go The Lights” and more. His band through this time featured Junior Wells, Robert “Junior” Lockwood, Freddie Robinson and even Albert Ayler & Ray Charles on some occasions. Little Walter toured the UK in 1964 with The Rolling Stones and once again in 1967 as part of the ‘American Folk Blues Festival’ before sadly passing away in 1968.
Billy Branch started out in Willie Dixon‘s band in the mid-seventies. He formed his own group Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues and has recorded for Alligator Records and Verve Records. Billy Branch has perfromed alongside Keb’ Mo’, Johnny Winter, Lou Rawls, Koko Taylor, Honeyboy Edwards, Syl Johnson, Taj Mahal and more.
Tonight the January Blues Festival welcomes Little Walter‘s daughter Marion Diaz Reacco representing the Little Walter Foundation to celebrate the life and music of her legendary father.