Blues Hog

Bill Arnold is the man behind Blues Hog Barbecue Sauce. Raised by his grandmother just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, Bill’s passion for cooking came at an early age. Racing past the clothes hung on the line and down where the locals had gathered to make “squirrel stew,” a young Bill would watch as the hickory slabs were turned under the barrels and the “stew” was churned with a boat paddle.
“One night at a cook, around two in the morning, I was headed to bed. Wasn’t asleep more than 10 minutes when someone runs in and shouted, “Bill! You need to cook the hog!” Someone had brought a dog over and it began to fight with another dog. Bailey, who was cooking, tried to separate them, but was bitten and lost his thumb! With Bailey rushed to the hospital, it was my duty to man the fire and turn the hog. Around the fire, a Yankee grabbed his fiddle and began to play, and as I swayed to the music, he said, “Look at that Blues Hog, flipping that hog! That’s when it stuck! Blues Hog Barbecue!”

We lost Bill in late 2021 after a 10 year battle with cancer. In September 2023, Bill was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame, joining an elite group of trailblazers who have all made significant contributions to the barbecue world. Bill was many things… loving father, mentor, veteran, and true BBQ legend! His charisma, ingenuity, and generosity set the tone for what the BBQ community is all about: embracing family and friends and promoting the enjoyment of barbecue. Bill’s legacy lives on as the sauce created in his garage now spans shelves across the world.