Despite being the son of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters, Big Bill Morganfield grew up in rural Florida with his grandmother and paid more attention to the music of the Jackson Five and James Brown than he did of his father's iconic Chicago blues licks. He played French horn in high school groups growing up and paved out a successful career as a teacher; but his father's death in 1983 led Morganfield to change paths and pursue music.
It took him six years to learn the guitar and a relentless amount of small gigs before he made a breakthrough when he appeared on stage playing harmonica with Lonnie Mack to a rapturous reception. It cemented his love of performing and he steeped himself in the roots and techniques of the early blues guitar players of the 1930s, '40s and '50s, before signing a deal with Blind Pig Records in 1999. Developing his own style, Morganfield sought to enliven and bring something new to the genre on his early albums 'Rising Son', 'Rambling Mind' and 'Blues in the Blood' and his original songs were well received by the blues community. He won the WC Handy Award for Best New Artist in 2000 and played with Taj Mahal, whilst headlining tours across America and playing festivals in Europe.
Although he spent little time with his father when he was alive, Morganfield's own career in music became a way of connecting to his legacy and he inherited the same tough, muscular attitude and regal, serene style of playing. His 2013 album 'Blues of a Mood' - produced by Bob Margolin - was particularly well received and he was at his most soulful and smooth on 'Bloodstains on the Wall' in 2016.
