Little Arthur Duncan

February 5, 1934 (age 74)

Indianola, Mississippi , United States

His first instrument was the drums. He found work playing the harmonica accompanying Earl Hooker, John Brim and Floyd Jones. Billed and henceforth commonly known as Little Arthur Duncan, he played primarily in and around Chicago and built up a local reputation over the years. He performed with his own band in the Backscratcher"s Social Club, which he owned. Duncan worked in construction during the 1960s and 1970s, so was restricted to playing and singing in the evenings. In 1989, Duncan recorded the album Bad Reputation, which was released on the Blues King record label. He later appeared on a compilation album, Blues Across America: The Chicago Scene, with Emery Williams Junior. and Robert Plunkett. In 1999, Duncan recorded for Delmark Records, which released the album Singin" with the Sun that year. On the album he was accompanied by the guitar player Billy Flynn. Live in Chicago followed in 2000. His final recording was Live at Rosa"s Blues Lounge, a live album recorded in Chicago in August 2007. One music journalist noted that "spirited, gritty performances of Reed"s "Pretty Thing," Wolf"s "Number Place to Go," and two Dixon favorites ("Young Fashioned Ways" and "Little Red Rooster") leave no doubt that Duncan lives and breathes electric Chicago blues." However, a subsequent lengthy illness and hospitalization meant that Duncan could not build on his success. Duncan died in Northlake, Illinois, in August 2008, from complications following brain surgery. He was aged 74.

Little Arthur Duncan

Edit Profile

Background

Duncan was born in Indianola, Mississippi.

Career

His first instrument was the drums. He found work playing the harmonica accompanying Earl Hooker, John Brim and Floyd Jones. Billed and henceforth commonly known as Little Arthur Duncan, he played primarily in and around Chicago and built up a local reputation over the years.

He performed with his own band in the Backscratcher"s Social Club, which he owned.

Duncan worked in construction during the 1960s and 1970s, so was restricted to playing and singing in the evenings. In 1989, Duncan recorded the album Bad Reputation, which was released on the Blues King record label.

He later appeared on a compilation album, Blues Across America: The Chicago Scene, with Emery Williams Junior. and Robert Plunkett. In 1999, Duncan recorded for Delmark Records, which released the album Singin" with the Sun that year.

On the album he was accompanied by the guitar player Billy Flynn.

Live in Chicago followed in 2000. His final recording was Live at Rosa"s Blues Lounge, a live album recorded in Chicago in August 2007. One music journalist noted that "spirited, gritty performances of Reed"s "Pretty Thing," Wolf"s "Number Place to Go," and two Dixon favorites ("Young Fashioned Ways" and "Little Red Rooster") leave no doubt that Duncan lives and breathes electric Chicago blues." However, a subsequent lengthy illness and hospitalization meant that Duncan could not build on his success.

Duncan died in Northlake, Illinois, in August 2008, from complications following brain surgery.

He was aged 74.

Membership

He was a member of the Backscratchers and over his working lifetime was associated with Earl Hooker, Twist Turner, Illinois Slim and Rick Kreher.

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

Little Arthur Duncan

Background

Career

Membership

Born

Died