Harmonica star at Whitefish club

Flanagan's Central Station in Whitefish brings in harmonica great Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues for two shows, Jan. 14-15.

Billy Branch, born in Chicago in 1951 and raised in Los Angeles, first picked up a harmonica at the age of 10. He returned to Chicago in the summer of 1969 and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in political science. It was during these years that he was introduced to the blues. He soon became immersed in the local blues scene. He spent a great deal of time at blues clubs and he learned from such stalwart harmonica players as Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Junior Wells and Carey Bell.

His big break came in 1975 during a harmonica battle when he beat Chicago legend Little Mac Simmons at the Green Bunny Club. He made his first recording for Barrelhouse Records and began to work as an apprentice harp player in Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars. He eventually replaced Carey Bell and worked with Willie Dixon for six years.

During this time, Branch formed the Sons Of Blues (S.O.B.s) featuring musicians who were the sons of famous blues artists. The original S.O.B.s consisted of Branch, Lurrie Bell, Freddie Dixon and Garland Whiteside. They toured Europe and played at the Berlin Jazz Festival. Shortly afterward, they recorded for Alligator Record's Grammy-nominated Living Chicago Blues sessions.

Branch has been a regular studio player appearing on over 50 albums and performing with a long list of blues legends including Muddy Waters, Big Walter Horton, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Koko Taylor, Johnny Winter and Albert King. In 1990, he appeared with three harp legends - Carey Bell, Junior Wells, and James Cotton - on the W.C Handy award winning album "Harp Attack!"

His most recent recordings for the Polygram label are "The Blues Keep Following Me Around" and "Satisfy Me."

Branch is also passing on the blues tradition to a new generation through his Blues In The Schools program. He is a dedicated blues educator and has taught in the Chicago school system for over 20 years as part of the Urban Gateways Project. In 1996, some of his finest students opened the Main Stage at the Chicago Blues Festival which was broadcast throughout the United States on National Public Radio.

Tickets for Billy Branch are $10.

Call 862-8888 for more information.