The Little Boy Blues were an American garage rock band from Chicago, Illinois active in the mid to late 1960s, who are considered early pioneers in protopunk.
[4][5] Their original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Lowell Shyette, lead guitarist Paul Ostroff, bassist Ray Levin, and drummer James Boyce—all students at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
[9] Later in 1965 they issued the single "Love for a Day," which became a major hit on Chicago radio and would earn the band opening gigs for acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Lovin' Spoonful, and The Association.
[10] A second vocalist, Billy McColl was occasionally brought in for live dates, and appeared on their second single, Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready," which marked a return to a more blues-based approach.
[18] As psychedelia grew in popularly, the group began to move into a more diverse musical direction, playing at local "be-ins" and headlining at Chicago psychedelic clubs such as the Cheetah and the Electric Playground.