James Byerly

When I was a boy, my grandfather put me on his knee and told me that in order to be somebody - you got to be somebody. I never forgot this advice. I was raised in a musical family. We sang at home, in the car, and especially in church. I began playing bass around 10 years old. BB King said that I was pretty good, and wanted me to go on the road with him. Mama said no. So I stayed in school, and kept learning more and more songs. Once a man tried to rob us, and I hit him with the bass guitar. I knocked him cold. When the police arrived, I had tied him up, and was playing some funk beats to the record player. The policeman had a friend in Memphis named Muddy Waters. He called Muddy and told him about my playing, and Muddy flew down the very next day. I quit school and toured with Muddy from 1977-1984. We saw the world together.