Bruce Iglauer

The founder of Alligator Records, one of the largest and most successful independent labels of the modern era, producer Bruce Iglauer was among the driving forces behind the contemporary blues revival. Born in Cincinnati in 1947, he became obsessed with the blues during the mid-1960s after catching a live performance by Mississippi Fred Mcdowell; he soon began hosting a blues radio show at his alma mater, Wisconsin's Lawrence College, and made regular pilgrimages to Chicago to hear Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, Otis Rush and Carey Bell. After convincing the college activities committee to book a live performance by Howlin' Wolf, Iglauer became frustrated by the lack of promotional support for the concert; convinced he could do better, he agreed to guarantee the costs of Luther Allison in exchange for complete control over promotional duties. Both of the shows quickly sold out.



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