Bill Dicey

William J. Dicey (May 25, 1936 – March 17, 1993) was an American blues harmonicist, singer and songwriter. He recorded two live albums and one studio album in his own name, as well as playing the harmonica and singing on a number of other musician's recordings. He was a regular fixture in the New York blues scene from the 1970s to the time of his death.

Life and career Dicey was born in Annapolis, Maryland, United States, and first played the harmonica at the age of three, but began an interest in blues harmonica styling five years later. As a part of Victoria Spivey's house band, Dicey subsequently provided backing on recordings made by Roosevelt Sykes, Big Joe Turner, Lloyd Glenn, Washboard Doc, Louisiana Red, Sugar Blue and Eunice Davis. In 1983, Operator! Operator! I'm Trying to Get in Touch With My Baby Again! was another live album issued by Spivey Records, accredited to 'Bill Dicey With the Fabulous Holmes Brothers With Popsy'.

Dicey died of cancer in March 1993, at the age of 56. His last words were, "This sucks".

In addition to those recordings described above, Dicey's harmonica playing, and sometimes vocals, can be heard on Louisiana Red's Louisiana Red Sings the Blues (1972, Atco Records), Jerry McCain, Frank Frost, and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's Harpin' on It (1972, Carnival Gold Standard), Paul Oscher's New York Really Has the Blues (1975, Spivey Records), The Best of Louisiana Red (1995, Evidence Records), and Pinetop Perkins' posthumous compilation, Chicago Boogie Blues Piano Man (2020, JSP Records).

Albums Caught in the Act (live album) (1980, Spivey Records) Operator! Operator! I'm Trying to Get in Touch With My Baby Again! (live album) (1983, Spivey) - credited to 'Bill Dicey With the Fabulous Holmes Brothers With Popsy' Fool in Love (1987, JSP Records) Fool in Love – The Complete Sessions (2019, JSP) – reissue of above with bonus tracks