Bob Hall & Hilary Blythe

Bob Hall has been acknowledged as Britain’s premier boogie woogie pianist and an expert on blues piano styles.

With over 100 recorded albums and more than 100 published contemporary songs, he has had a formidable critically acclaimed career. Still at the top of his game, he continues to tour and entertain new generations with his sparkling technique, carefully crafted lyrics and dry humour.

Bob’s wife and stage partner, Hilary Blythe, has performed since the 1960s in folk clubs and festivals throughout the UK and taken her music to many corners of the world.

Known for the crystal-clear clarity of her voice and neat finger-picked guitar, Hilary now adds rock-steady bass guitar and outstanding classic blues to all their shows. In return, Bob plays mandolin to accompany Hilary’s acoustic guitar.

Bob Hall, singer, pianist, mandolinist and songwriter, is a founder member of several British blues groups, including The Groundhogs and The Sunflower Blues Band, and band leader of Rocket 88 (with Charlie Watts) and The British Blues All Stars (with Long John Baldry and Peter Green).

Bob has accompanied a host of blues and rock stars, including Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Little Walter, and played on well over a hundred albums, including four solo piano albums and dozens more as band leader or co-leader.

Friends since they were neighbours in the sixties, Dave Kelly and Bob have had many critically acclaimed joint projects, have played in each other’s bands and on each other’s recordings.

Complimenting the duo is Hilary Blythe on bass and guitar, an emotive singer of classic blues and a well-known performer on the folk scene. Hilary’s rock-solid bass is also the engine room behind the Lil’ Jimmy Reed Band.

Bob Hall resume

1964 – 1965 Founder member The Groundhogs – backed John Lee Hooker

1964 – 74 Began playing piano and mandolin in folk clubs with Jo Ann Kelly. First BBC radio shows with Alexis Korner

1965 – 69 Founder member Savoy Brown

1966 – 69 Played in John Dummer Band with Dave Kelly – backed Howlin’ Wolf

1968 – 72 Founder member Sunflower Blues Band with Bob Brunning bass – recorded with Peter Green – began songwriting

1969 – 74 Formed the band Tramp with Bob Brunning, Jo Ann & Dave Kelly, Danny Kirwan and Mick Fleetwood (of Fleetwood Mac) drums – all original songs

1972 – 79 Became house pianist for Big Bear Music – backed Lightnin’ Slim, Whispering Smith, Homesick James, Snooky Pryor, Eddie Burns and many other visiting American bluesmen

1974 – 75 Gave piano lessons to Linda McCartney

1974 – 77 Toured Germany with George Green playing boogie woogie on two pianos. First solo gigs

1974 – 76 Published articles on blues piano in Blues Unlimited magazine

1977 – 2017 Formed duo partnership with Dave Peabody

1977 – 79 Formed The Bob Hall/George Green Boogie Woogie Big Band with Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones) and horn section

1978 Fifty Years of Boogie Woogie celebrations. South Bank and other TV shows. Solo boogie woogie albums. Boogie woogie album with strings

1979 – 84 The Bob Hall / George Green Boogie Woogie Big Band re-named Rocket 88 – with rhythm section Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce (Cream) bass and Alexis Korner guitar

1979 Began playing with The Blues Band, with Paul Jones, Dave Kelly and Tom McGuinness

1981 – 88 Founder member De Luxe Blues Band with Bob Brunning, Danny Adler vocal/guitar, Dick Heckstall-Smith tenor and Micky Waller (Rod Stewart, Small Faces) drums – backed Lowell Fulsom

1989 – 2010 Became regular guest at The Blues Band gigs

1991 First solo album

1991 European tour with Chuck Berry

1991 – 2005 Played a wide number of Rural Touring Schemes in home counties and Scotland with Hilary Blythe (vocal/bass) performing themed shows

2000 Second solo album

2004 – 2008 Formed The British Blues All Stars with Long John Baldry, Peter Green, Dick Heckstall-Smith and Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown)

2010 – to present date. Started working with Lil’ Jimmy Reed in UK, Europe and Canada

2012 Third solo album

2012 – 21 Presenter of weekly Keynote Club radio blues programme on Sheffield Live!

2020 – to present date. Formed trio with Dave Kelly and Hilary Blythe. Hoping to record live album next year (2024)