Lurrie Bell

by Bill Dahl and Al CampbellLurrie Bell was born on December 13, 1958, in Chicago. 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; Bells recorded output and live performances were inconsistent in the 80s and early 90s. Among the highlights of Bells discography are three tracks in tandem with harpist Billy Branch under the Sons of Blues banner (Bell was a founding member of the band) from Alligators first batch of 1978 Living Chicago Blues anthologies and a 1984 collaboration, Son of a Gun, with his old man for Rooster Blues. Then theres his set for Delmark, Mercurial Son, as bizarre a contemporary blues album as youre likely to encounter. Bell followed Mercurial Son with the more straightforward 700 Blues in spring 1997; The Blues Had a Baby appeared two years later.