Genre: Blues
Mac Arnold was born in Ware Place South Carolina, one of 13 children born and raised on a sharecropper's farm. His musical journey began in the 1950's when he and his brother Leroy fashioned a guitar from a steel gas can, wood, nails, and screen wire. His early career included working with a young James Brown in the band, J. Floyd & the Shamrocks. Arnold moved to Chicago in 1965, where he worked with A.C. Reed prior to joining Muddy Waters' band in 1966. Arnold appears on the November 1966 live recording with Muddy released in 2009 as Muddy Waters - Authorized Bootleg. He formed the Soul Invaders in 1967, finding work backing up BB King, The Temptations, and others. His studio work in the 1960's includes playing bass on several notable blues albums, including Otis Spann's "The Blues Is Where It's At", and John Lee Hooker's "Live At Cafe Au Go Go". He performed in various session work after moving to California in the 1970's. Arnold's distinctive bass line can be heard on the theme for the TV show "Sanford and Son". His TV work also included a four year gig as part of the set band on "Soul Train". Mac's back at it with Plate Full O’ Blues.