Willie Big Eyes Smith - Way Back

Willie Big Eyes Smith is best known as the longtime drummer in the Muddy Waters Band. With seven W.C. Handy awards for blues drumming and six Grammy awards with the Legendary Blues Band, Smith has already left his mark on the music world. Before joining Muddy's band he played harmonica on Bo Diddley's 1955 classic recording Diddy Wah Diddy. Most people are surprised to learn that the harp was Willie's first instrument, and one he never abandoned. Turning 70 this year doesn't seem to slow him down. With Way Back, Smith steps forward as a fully realized harmonica master and frontman supported by some of the best Chicago blues players around including both seasoned vets and young-bloods: Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Calvin Fuzz Jones, Bob Margolin, Billy Flynn, Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore, Kenny Beedy Eyes Smith, Little Frank and Johnny Rapp. All 11 tracks have that pure old school Chicago blues sound.