Biography

Singer and guitar player Bill Abel from the Clarksdale Mississippi area is a torch bearer of the gritty unorthodoxed modern day juke joint sound that originates from the Mississippi Delta. Born and raised in the small delta town of Belzoni, Bill learned his blues first hand from the musicians he played with which are a who's who list of delta legends that include Paul “Wine Jones”, Cadillac John Nolden, T Model Ford, Honey Boy Edwards and many others. He defies most blues categories with a hard driving electrified country blues, a sound that is rarely heard today. His guitar playing has been featured on award winning blues projects with artist such as Hubert Sumlin, Big George Brock, T Model Ford and a host of others which include the Broke and Hungry and Cathead records roster. A Mainstay on the Delta scene for 30 years, Bill has played on more than 25 records including his most recent recordings  Rich Poor Man ,To That Land Where I’m Bound and Goin Over The Hill . In 2015 he also released The Celestial Train CD. “Celestial Train” is one of the purest offerings of hill country blues since R.L. Burnside, Fred McDowell, and Junior Kimbrough passed.” Scott Zuppardo – No Depression. “Some are simply blessed with an extra-deep gutbucket. Count the wooly Bill Abel among those fortunate bluesmen. His ferocious brand of guitar-stomp is as untamed and authoritative a statement of native Mississippiness as is that of the region's hardcore elders with who he's rumbled. Abel is right there with T-Model Ford and the late, great Paul 'Wine' Jones, his influential houserocking neighbor. The groove is still omnipotent: an intensely rhythmic tangle of plunging downbeats and nasty deep end that brutalizes amplifiers.” Dennis Rozanski – Bluesrag. Bill has toured Europe 12 times playing festivals such as Norway’s Notodden Festival, Sweden’s Amal Festival, Wales, England, Belgium, Italy, and also as one of the headliners for Switzerland's Blues Rules festival. Across the USA  performances have included  Beale Street Music festival, King Biscuit Festival and many others as well as playing clubs and art centers all across the U.S.  Awards include: Blues Musician of the Year 2006 by The Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola , Finalist in the 2012 International Blues Competition,and Nominated for Independent Music Award in 2012 for best cover song.