ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi θɹˈiː, wˌaɪl ɐtˈɛndɪŋ pɹˈɪnstən hˈaɪ skˈuːl ɪn pɹˈɪnstən, nˈuː dʒˈɜːsi, hˈɪl mˈɛt hɑːɹmˈɑːnɪkə plˈeɪɚ dʒˈɑːn pˈɑːpɚ, ænd ðeɪ fˈɔːɹmd ɐ ɡɹˈuːp dˈʌbd blˈuːz bˈænd.
In 1983, while attending Princeton High School in Princeton, New Jersey, Hill met harmonica player John Popper, and they formed a group dubbed Blues Band.