(Robert Lee 'Chicago Bob' Nelson)
DISCOGRAPHY 1987-2010 (16CD)
BIOGRAPHY
"Chicago" Bob Nelson (July 4, 1944, Bogalusa, Louisiana January 18,
2013, United States) was an American blues musician."Chicago" Bob Nelson was a harmonica player and singer who is known for amalgamating Louisiana and Chicago blues styles. He was singular in being mentored by traditional rural southern blues harmonica practitioners and melding their approach with urban Chicago playing, thus creating his own distinctive sound.
His family was a musical family. Bob's father, Versie Nelson, played upright bass and harmonica. From an early age Bob accompanied Versie to house parties, backyard barbecues and Saturday night fish fries around Bogalusa where cajun music, zydeco and blues were performed. Nelson recalled, "It was just people eating, jamming and having a good time!"
Nelson began playing the harmonica at age 8. As a youngster he was
encouraged and instructed by Versie's musical cohorts, Louisiana blues
legends (and Excello recording artists) Slim Harpo (James Moore) and Lazy
Lester (Leslie Johnson).
Nelson credited Harpo, Lester, Sonny Boy Williamson II (Aleck Miller) and
Jimmy Reed (all of whom he knew) as his primary influences, as well as
Sonny Boy (John Lee) Williamson whose recordings he studied. Through
listening to these artists, Nelson learned to use his instrument as a
"second voice" to interpret and elucidate the emotion and themes of a
song. Trips to Chicago to visit family were a major part of Nelson's
childhood.
By the early 1960s he had taken up residence in Chicago. There he met and
performed with Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Earl Hooker and
Muddy Waters. The latter, having run into Nelson at nearly every blues
venue in Chicago, bestowed upon him the moniker that continues to identify
him today.
Nelson later performed with Muddy Waters at the Newport Folk Festival.
Throughout his career Nelson has toured extensively with Luther "Snake
Boy" Johnson, Tinsley Ellis and John Lee Hooker.
Nelson died on January 18, 2013.