“I think it's great that the young guns are so into all of the history of the Blues. The come uppers are such great players and know so much it's amazing. I feel so lucky to have been a very small part of it. I think it's important in today's society to honor all of that history.”

Billy Prewitt: Talk A Blues Streak

Born in 1945, Billy Prewitt is a self-taught musician who initially learned how to play the guitar, harmonica, and bass. He became skilled enough to make a living until he met the great late Otis Rush, a legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter with 41 classic blues albums who hired him and taught him how to play blues. How that came about is described in episode #5 of his podcast called Talk A Blues Streak. Explore Billy’s adventure from being an up-and-coming musician to becoming a well-known blues artist in Chicago, IL. Going back to his roots as a blues artist, Billy now plays only a few select jobs each year exclusively for blues enthusiasts. He is always thinking “outside the box” and not afraid to try something new. This mindset helped him become Chicago’s first “One-Man Jam” empowering him to use a “looping” station to create a 100% improvised, unique blues show. When he is asked to play “The Best of Billy Prewitt,” he says the best has yet to come and with no “Sell By” date!

(Billy Prewitt / Photo by Roman Sobus)

Billy is often invited to play the largest free blues festival in the world CHICAGO BLUES FEST. He performed at the Otis Rush Tribute in 2016 and was honored to be onstage to see Otis for the last time with Buddy Guy and many others when Mayor Rahm Emanuel declared June 12th officially Otis Rush day in Chicago. Now approaching his 8th decade he still loves performing for an audience, still on fire, loves being part of a jam session, happy to receive invites to continue playing with the musicians in Chicago’s Blues community near and far. He looks forward to meeting blues enthusiasts and seeing you at the next gig. In the studio Billy currently enjoys creating all new original podcasts called “Talk A Blues Streak,” which is all about the people he has met, places he has been, and everywhere in between. Each episode ends with an original song about the story told.

interview by Michael Limnios                     Archive: Billy Prewitt, 2018 interview

How has the music influenced your views of the world?

In the past, I have always underestimated the power of music and now I have realized how you can actually change the world if you use music constructively. For instance, I believe that the Beatles brought down the Berlin Wall. In my latest podcast about Bobby Bland, I talk about some examples about that power. My podcast series are colorful storybook journeys through my life, stopping off at the places I've been and everywhere in between.

What moment changed your life in music the most?

I suppose as a kid growing up, I was about 12 years old when I really became aware of music. On the AM radio was "Stay" by Maurice Williams and "Book of Love" by the Monotones, that really got to me and gave me chills. I didn't know it then, but I was already hooked and on the road to loving real Blues. That's when I bought my first guitar and sat down and tried to figure it out on my own.

“I simply have so much more respect for the old stuff that has been recorded. All the early Otis Rush and Little Walter vinyl sounds so much more interesting to me now since it's authentic, even with the lesser state of the art quality at the time of the recordings.” (Billy Prewitt / Photo by Howard Greenblatt)

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

I suppose my sound now is sort of a pedal to the metal intense, Blues after playing with Otis Rush in the 60s and forming my rock band "Horace Monster" in the 70s, it has taken a few twists and turns. The songs I've written have evolved in the same way and in my podcast I try to shape each song to fit the story in front of it to make it more interesting to the listener. If people can feel some emotion then my work is done.

Blues documentary (with Emmy Award), Talk A Blues Streak (podcast)…What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music and projects?

Well, I'm extremely grateful that the documentary Rocket Productions decided to film won the only blues documentary in history to ever win an Emmy, and there are some great ones out there. The driving force for me is that I simply feel the stories need to be told. It makes life interesting, so the more the merrier.

Why do you think that Chicago Blues Scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

For me, I consider Chicago as the blues capital of the world and that's the only reason I moved here. The first time I heard the 1st original Paul Butterfield album, I was hooked and packed up my little Volkswagen to move to Chicago not knowing anyone there. I had no idea where I was going or how I was going to get into the blues scene, but now that I think back on it's amazing that I ended up getting a permanent job with Otis Rush, and became close friends with Sam Lay. Sammy was the original drummer on that first Butterfield album. That's a pretty interesting story in episode number #5 in my podcast series "Talk a Blues Streak" on any platform wherever you get your podcasts from.

“My podcast series are colorful storybook journeys through my life, stopping off at the places I've been and everywhere in between.”

(Photo: Billy Prewitt & John Primer)

How has your experience with the “golden era” of blues influenced the way you compose and perform today?

I simply have so much more respect for the old stuff that has been recorded. All the early Otis Rush and Little Walter vinyl sounds, so much more interesting to me now since it's authentic, even with the lesser state of the art quality at the time of the recordings.  I recently got a private tour of the old Chess recording studios which is now the Willie Dixon Blues Garden. There's so much history in those walls it's amazing. I was lucky enough to play there a couple weeks ago in a jam session with Carlos Showers backed by the Mike Wheeler band.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

I think it's great that the young guns are so into all of the history of the Blues. The come uppers are such great players and know so much it's amazing. I feel so lucky to have been a very small part of it. I think, it's important in today's society to honor all of that history.

How can a band/musician truly turn the blues into a commercial and popular genre of music for the today's audience?

Well, it's been said many times that Rock and Roll and Blues have influenced every genre of music. It all goes back to the basic three chord changes. I took it a step further and my favorite changes are NO changes at all...LOL. If someone can make a blues song interesting by just improvising licks and creating some kind of magic, then to me that's where the real talent is. Smokestack Lightning, Spoonful, and so many Willie Dixon songs have no changes at all, and for me to create so much music and  make time stand still is the ultimate rush. I can recall a few times in the past where club owners have complained that the sets were too short and said we played 10 minutes and took a break! We always made sure our sets were 40 minutes long and so for me that was the ultimate compliment, because apparently for the club owner we made time stand still.

What keeps a musician passionate after six decades in blues world/music?

Well actually it's been 7 decades now because today is my 80th birthday and I can't believe I made it this far. I never thought I would ever live this long. But now that it's become a mission to now go for 100. To be called a centenarian would really be a compliment and as long as I have a quality life I'm up for it. I am also very relieved to know that I won't die young. LOL. I just want to keep on going because I don't know what else I would do with my life, since I am self-taught and never graduated high school. I feel very honored to do this interview and anybody who is interested can always go to my sites for updates.  I wish everyone a great day and let the blues pull you through.

Billy Prewitt - Home

(Billy Prewitt / Photo by Roman Sobus)