Biography

-2009-

“Old-school at its finest” – Blues Revue

“One of the most original voices in blues... a uniquely distinct resonance ”
– JazzNow

“The voice is appropriately seasoned and credible... his group able to match his bursts with formidable answering riffs and licks ” – Nashville City Paper

“Mac Arnold is a Country Man, both at home on his South Carolina farm and performing his music in countries worldwide. He honed his music in the 1960s Chicago R&B scene and playing bass in Muddy Waters’ band, but has lived back home for decades. His voice is warm, with a deep churchy vibrato that reminds me of Junior Parker or Albert King. His gas can guitar slides you Down Home and his bass walks proudly carrying his big city experience. Mac has put together a great band of his South Carolina neighbors, Plate Full O’ Blues. They don’t just follow him, they work with him closely on songwriting and arranging, and their playing together has turned them into a tight stage band and a musical family. I was proud to be a guest with this family, producing this album and sitting in on a few tracks. Their songs range from deep to fun, revealing their musical and social family values. Have a seat at their table, their Blues as well as their greens and their stories are hot and fresh and slow-cooked.”
– Bob Margolin (from the CD liner notes)

MAC ARNOLD’s career reads like a “who’s who” of Blues/R&B legends. James Brown played piano in his Macon, Georgia high school band. In 1965 Mac moved to Chicago to work with saxophonist A.C. Reed, and soon began playing with the Muddy Waters Blues Band, helping to shape the electric blues sound that inspired the rock and roll movement of the decades to follow. Regular guests of the band included Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and Elvin Bishop. Mac also appeared on seminal recordings by John Lee Hooker and Otis Spann. After leaving Muddy’s band, Mac formed the Soul Invaders, backing up artists including the Temptations and B.B. King. Mac then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked at ABC Television and Laff Records (Redd Foxx). This led to four years on the set of Soul Train and work with Bill Withers before moving back to South Carolina in the 80s.
Mac now resides in Pelzer, South Carolina, where at the age of ten he got his first taste of the blues when he learned to play his brother Leroy’s home-made guitar. Going back to his roots, Mac is serving up a mess of blues with his own band, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues. The band consists of Danny Keylon on bass and vocals, Austin Brashier on guitar and vocals, Max Hightower on keyboards, harmonica, guitar and vocals, Mike Whitt on drums, and Mac Arnold on vocals, bass and Gas Can Guitars. COUNTRY MAN was produced by Bob Margolin, who sits in on three songs.