William "Big
Bill" Morganfield was born in Chicago, the son of blues legend McKinley
Morganfield. Raised by Verdell Clark, his grandmother, in Southern
Florida, Morganfield originally eschewed music in favor of academics,
earning degrees in English from Tuskegee University and communications
from Auburn University.
Reverend Keith A.
Gordon, About.com
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 W.C. Handy Award Winner
Bill
Morganfield is the son of McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters) and has
emerged in the past few years as one of the top blues talents in
America. Bill has played all over the world in the past 15 years,
bringing pure joy to those who have had the pleasure of seeing his live
performance.
Many men try to fill their father's shoes when they
join the family business. Few, however, must prove they are up to the
task in front of an audience as large as the one that watched Big Bill
Morganfield. Morganfield didn't take up the challenge until several
years after his dad passed away in 1983. The blues world mourned the
passing of Muddy. Muddy leaves not only a gaping hole on the blues scene
but also a grief-stricken son who is contemplating how to handle the
loss. Bill buys himself a guitar and retreats into a private world,
intending to teach himself how to play and then pay homage to his famous
father. That
tribute was six long years in coming; years that Morganfield spent
teaching himself how to play the instrument. He studies the blues styles
of the past. Says Bill, "I learned the old traditional blues, songs
written in the 1930's to the 1950's." An evening spent playing harp at
Center Stage in Atlanta with Lonnie Mack followed. The audience, which
numbered 1000, went wild over the performance and set the novice
musician's spirit afire.
The years of dedication and hard work
paid off handsomely. Morganfield's debut album, Rising Son, was released
in 1999 to popular and critical acclaim. Guitar Player expressed their
belief that Morganfield's album would have brought a smile to his
father's face. The following year, the W.C. Handy Awards dubbed Waters'
son the Best New Blues Artist.
In 2009, Big Bill Morganfield started his own record company, Black
Shuck Records. Black Shuck Records is backed by VizzTone Label Group and
serves as the backbone of Black Shuck Records. Bill's new CD, Born
Lover, was released July 7, 2009 on Black Shuck Records. CD co-producer
(and Muddy Waters' Band alumnus) Bob Margolin writes, "Big Bill
Morganfield's, Born Lover, reveals and celebrates his journey and
progress as a Blues artist. I find that Bill still honors his father
with deep Chicago Blues. He also tells his own stories with original
songs, a wide variety of style, and fiery slide guitar. Bill's singing
has taken an exciting leap forward in both power and nuance. It's a
thrill to hear Bill fulfill."
Big Bill's story is simply a great
success story. Many have dreams, but so few have what it takes to make
that dream a reality. But, hard work, burning desire, perseverance, and strong
religious convictions gave him the strength and focus needed to fulfill
his dreams.
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