MusiciansStudio

“They blow down the walls. Dim the lights, turn up the stereo, and let the house party begin” —Guitar Player

“The world’s #1 houserocking blues band” —The Boston Globe

“Lil’ Ed And The Blues Imperials throw down old-style house-rocking shuffles, duck-walking struts and stomping rhythms as if marching down the tabletops at an all-night club…fearsome” —The Chicago Tribune

From smoking slide guitar boogies to raw-boned Chicago shuffles to the deepest slow blues, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Lil’ Ed Williams is an awe-inspiring master bluesman. Born in Chicago on April 4, 1955, Ed grew up surrounded by the blues. He was playing guitar, then drums and bass, by the time he was 12. In 1975, his band, the Blues Imperials, was formed.  After playing clubs for numerous years, the group reached Alligator president, Bruce Iglauer.  The group’s first album was released in September of 1986, and the band went from playing local bars to clubs, concert stages and festivals coast-to-coast, as well as overseas.

Lil’ Ed And The Blues 1989 and 1992 releases brought them to more people than ever before. They toured Australia, and then went back to Europe before joining The Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour.  After years on the road, Ed broke up the band, only to reunite in 1998, when they released 1999’s Get Wild!, and Heads Up! in 2002.