Billy Branch: Playing History Through His Harmonica

It is our 100th episode at Time Signatures, and you cannot celebrate a landmark episode without a legendary Bluesman, like Billy Branch. Billy came up in Chicago, learning harp skills in all of the local clubs, battling with the likes of James Cotton, Willie Dixon, Carey Bell, and others. Billy joins Erv to talk about all of that, plus his first recorded single with Willie Dixon and the Chicago Blues Allstars, his longstanding Blues in the Schools work (some 46 years!), forming the Sons of Blues and playing as the first band to play at the legendary Rosa's Lounge. In addition to all of that, Billy is about to celebrate the release of his new album, the first on the Rosa's Lounge Record label, and he recently was named as a recipient of the prestigious Taproot Fellowship for his lifelong work in the Blues. This is a wonderful episode you do not want to miss, as it is full of great stories, and Billy is just an amazing guest, and Blues Ambassador. Enjoy!Rosa's Lounge Records: https://rosaslounge-records.com/Taproot Fellowship: https://taproot.actaonline.org/fellow/billy-branch/Website: https://www.billybranch.com/index.htmlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyBranchMusicSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cUazMvxcAPELFif0BGn2t?si=YaluP4-sR8i7bZ_OKdL1CQYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Y1KhczoDrp2T8UcfmcMJQ_________________________Facebook: Time SignaturesYouTube: Time SignaturesFacebook: Capital Area Blues SocietyWebsite: Capital Area Blues SocietyFriends of Time Signatures _______Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues ArchiveWebsite: Killer Blues Headstone ProjectWebsite: Blues Society Radio NetworkWebsite: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation