Little Boy Blue - Mack Simmons / Billy Branch

In Arelean Brown's last two performances she sang the song Little Boy Blue with Buddy Scott and the Rip Tips. The first performance of the song featured Little Mack Simmons on harmonica and a week later she featured Billy Branch on harmonica. Five years previous in 1975 at the Green Bunny Lounge, there was an infamous harmonica battle between Mack and Billy. This posting is a composite of those two 1980 performances. This is not intended to extend the Battle of Harmonicas but to show the different styles of these gifted musicians.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Chicago
• Blues
• Harp
• Harmonica
• Mack
• Simmons
• Billy
• Branch
• Arelean
• Brown

[abettamo64]

arlean had breast cancer,which spread. the cancer, radiation,etc... caused her to swell and it was a soft cast.and she did die shortly after

[GerreeCee]

Thanks for the clarification.

[checker764]

Was her arm in a cast?

[GerreeCee]

She had some type of cancer in that arm, which I believe took her life shortly after these videos.

[blues4sale]

thanks so much Gerry, I love all Arlean's recordings, do you have any Lee Shot Williams on film?

[GerreeCee]

A couple little things,

[deanmadonia]

Nice. I actually wrote a song called "Little Boy Blue," that has nothing to do with the original rhyme.... Check it out!

[cedricleecason]

Let me make a correction, it sounds like an amp Billy is playing, but who cares really...these men can play with whatever...thanks for posting!

[cedricleecason]

Tone comes from the player, but u can tell the difference because Mack is playing thru PA and Billy thru an amp...great talent from both men. I respect both cause I like the amp but also love the PA sound...blow boys, blow!!!

[Mazblues]

what a remarkable turning-point in harp history this is: trad turning modern! thanks for posting & clarifying the circumstances...