Carey Bell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carey Bell
Bell at the Long Beach Blues Festival, 2003
Background information
Birth name	Carey Bell Harrington
Born	(1936-11-14)November 14, 1936 Macon, Mississippi, United States
Died	May 6, 2007(2007-05-06) (aged 70) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Chicago blues, Harmonica blues, electric blues
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer
Instruments	Harmonica, bass, vocals
Years active	1956–2007
Labels	Delmark, Blind Pig, Alligator
Associated acts	Lurrie Bell, Willie Dixon, Louisiana Red Queen Sylvia Embry

Carey Bell Harrington (born November 14, 1936 – died May 6, 2007) was an American blues musician. He was famous for playing the harmonica in the Chicago blues style. Bell also played bass guitar and sang. He performed with other blues musicians for many years. Later, he started his own music career. He recorded albums with artists like Earl Hooker and Muddy Waters. He also often played with his son, the guitarist Lurrie Bell. Many people called Carey Bell one of Chicago's best harmonica players.

Carey Bell's Musical Journey

Early Life and Learning Music

Carey Bell Harrington was born in Macon, Mississippi. When he was a child, he loved the music of Louis Jordan. He really wanted to play the saxophone, just like Jordan. But his family could not afford a saxophone. So, he got a harmonica instead. People sometimes called the harmonica a "Mississippi saxophone."

Soon, young Carey became interested in famous blues harmonica players. He listened to musicians like DeFord Bailey and Little Walter. He taught himself how to play the harmonica. By the time he was eight years old, he was very good at it. When he was thirteen, he joined a blues band. His godfather, the pianist Lovie Lee, led this band.

Moving to Chicago

In September 1956, Lovie Lee convinced Carey Bell to move to Chicago with him. Chicago was a big city for blues music. Soon after arriving, Bell went to a club where Little Walter was playing. Bell met Walter and learned some harmonica tips from him. He also learned a lot from Big Walter Horton, who was his main teacher in Chicago.

To help him get more music jobs, Bell also learned to play the electric bass. He learned this from Hound Dog Taylor. When Bell came to Chicago, electric guitars were becoming very popular in blues music. This meant there was less demand for harmonica players. So, playing the bass helped him find work. In the late 1960s, he often played harmonica and bass with guitarists like Eddie Taylor. In 1969, Bell toured Europe. He played at the famous Royal Albert Hall in London.

First Albums and Collaborations

In 1969, a record company called Delmark Records released Bell's first album. It was called Carey Bell's Blues Harp. After that, he played with the legendary Muddy Waters in 1970 and 1971. He also joined Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars.

In 1972, Bell recorded an album with Big Walter Horton. It was called Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell. A year later, Bell released his own album, Last Night. He kept playing with Willie Dixon and his own bands. In 1978, he was part of an album called Living Chicago Blues. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award.

During the 1980s, Bell continued to record music and tour around the world. In 1990, he joined three other great harmonica players. They were Junior Wells, James Cotton, and Billy Branch. They recorded a very popular album called Harp Attack!.

Later Career and Awards

Even though he had been in music for many years, Carey Bell's first full solo album with Alligator Records came out in 1995. It was called Deep Down. He released another album, Good Luck Man, in 1997. In 2004, he released Second Nature. On this album, his son, Lurrie Bell, played guitar with him.

In 1998, Carey Bell won a special award. He received the Blues Music Award for Traditional Male Artist of the Year. This award recognized his classic blues style.

Final Recordings and Passing

In 2007, Delmark Records released a live album by Carey Bell. His son Lurrie and other musicians played with him on this recording.

Carey Bell passed away on May 6, 2007, in Chicago. He died from heart failure.

Carey Bell's Music Albums

This is a list of albums that Carey Bell released:

• Carey Bell's Blues Harp (Delmark, 1969)
• Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell (Alligator, 1973) with Big Walter Horton
• Last Night (BluesWay, 1973)
• Heartaches and Pain (Delmark, 1977 [1994])
• Goin' on Main Street (Evidence), 1982
• Son of a Gun (Rooster Blues), 1984
• Straight Shoot (Blues South West), 1986
• Harpslinger (JSP), 1988
• Dynasty! (JSP), 1990
• Mellow Down Easy (Blind Pig), 1991
• Breakdown Blues Live!, with "The Cat" (CMA), 1992
• Harpmaster (JSP), 1994
• Carey Bell & Spike Ravenswood (Saar), 1995
• Deep Down (Alligator), 1995
• Good Luck Man (Alligator), 1997
• Brought Up the Hard Way (JSP CD 802), 1999
• Second Nature (Alligator), 2004
• Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa's and Lurrie's Home, with Lurrie Bell (Delmark), 2007

Albums with Louisiana Red

Carey Bell also recorded several albums with the musician Louisiana Red:

• Reality Blues (L+R), 1980
• Boy from Black Bayou (L+R), 1983
• My Life (L+R), 1984
• Brothers in Blues (CMA Records), 1993
• Live at 55 (Enja), 1994
• The Blues Masters Bad Case of the Blues (Mojo Tone), 2004

Working with Other Artists

Carey Bell played on albums with many other famous artists:

• I Feel Good! with John Lee Hooker (Carson, 1970)
• I Wanna Dance All Night with John Lee Hooker (America, 1970)
• 2 Bugs and a Roach with Earl Hooker (Arhoolie, 1969)
• Lake Michigan Ain't No River, with Bob Riedy Blues Band, 1972–1973
• "Unk" in Funk with Muddy Waters (Chess, 1974)
• Just Off Halsted, with Bob Riedy Blues Band (Flying Fish FF 006), 1974
• Blues After Sunrise, with Heinz Sauer and Bob Degen (L+R 40017), 1980
• Harp Attack!, with James Cotton, Junior Wells and Billy Branch (Alligator), 1990
• Delta Bluesman, with Honeyboy Edwards (Earwig 4922), 1991
• Good Candy, with Lovie Lee (Earwig 4928), 1994
• You Can't Take My Blues, with Doug MacLeod (Sledgehammer Blues 2-AQM-1041), 1996
• Blues Blues Blues, with the Jimmy Rogers All Stars (Atlantic), 1998
• Superharps II, with Lazy Lester, Raful Neal and Snooky Pryor (Telarc), 2001
• Family Album, with Wentus Blues Band (Bluelight), 2004

See also

In Spanish: Carey Bell para niños