Few things can be said blues fans do not already know about a living legend like singer and drummer Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith, the king of shuffle rhythm, now harmonica player after leaving it for about thirty years Willie was born in Helena, Arkansas on January 19th 1936 and he can feel proud to have played along his musical career with all legendary Chicago bluesmen, from Bo Diddley to Big Boy Spires and specially on the Muddy Waters band during the seventies and the beginning of the eighties, some years before Muddy’s death Then he started a new project, The Legendary Blues Band, where he played drums until its dissolution, recording eight impressive essential albums of the most genuine real Chicago blues Willie has been active playing regularly with his own band, recording excellent cds such as Bag Full Of Blues, Nothin’ But The Blues Y’ All, Blues From The Heart, Way Back or Bluesin’ It, always surrounded by the best musicians representing that style we deeply love Born In Arkansas has been recorder for Willie’s own label Big Eye, and brings us Willie singing and playing harp along thirteen great splendid blues, backed by a bund of friends and family, such as amazing Bob Stroger on bass, my good friend Barrelhouse Chuck on piano, Billy Flynn on guitar, Little Frank Krakowsky on guitar and even his son and excellent drummer too, Kenny ‘Beedy Eyes’ Smith An essential record devoted to all blues lovers