Lil ‘Ed was born in Chicago on April 8, 1955, in the heart of Chicago’s ghetto neighborhood West Side, a city filled with countless blues talents.
Ed grew up surrounded by music. He played guitar, then drums and bass, from the age of 12.

Lil ‘Ed has come naturally to blues music, as his uncle, Chicago slide guitar king JB Hutto, taught him to feel and not just play the music.
Ed and Pookie (Ed’s half-brother) received lessons and support from their famous uncle. “JB taught me everything I know, I would not be where I am today without him.” Ed and Pookie spent their teenage years making music together, forming back in 1975 the first version of The Blues Imperials. Nine albums and thousands of appearances later, Lil ‘Ed is now a giant of the genre.