Chicago Bob played the harmonica and sang for several decades before releasing some solo recordings late in his career. Born Bob Nelson on July 4, 1944, in Bogalusa, LA, he frequently sang in local churches as a boy and began working the New Orleans bar circuit as a teen during the late '50s. In 1959, he moved to Gary, IN, and toured with Earl Hooker. A bit later, in the early '60s, he began working as a sideman throughout the Chicago area, performing with such artists as Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. During his stay in Chicago, the vocalist formed the Chicago Bob Blues Band and performed locally. He moved to Boston, MA, in the late '60s, when he worked outside the music industry for some time. He returned to music in the early '70s, performing alongside John Lee Hooker and Johnny Shines. In later years, Chicago Bob worked primarily with two bands -- the Heartfixers and the Shadows -- but continued to perform both on his own and with others. Though his releases appeared sporadically over the years, he continued recording into the '90s.
Chicago Bob Biography by Jason Birchmeier
