Big Joe Williams

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Big Joe Williams (born Joseph Lee Williams, October 16, 1903 - December 17, 1982) was an American blues musician and songwriter, known for his characteristic style of guitar-playing, his nine-string guitar, and his bizarre, cantankerous personality.

Born in Crawford, Mississippi, Williams performed frequently, wandering across the United States busking and playing stores, bars, alleys and work camps, as well as recording for Okeh, Bluebird Records, Delmark Records, Prestige Records and Vocalion.

Big Joe’s guitar playing is decidedly in the Delta Blues style, and yet is unique. He played driving rhythm and virtuosic lead lines simultaneously, and sang over it all. He played with picks both on his thumb and index finger, plus his guitar was very heavily modified.
Williams added a rudimentary electric pick-up, whose wires coiled all over the top of his guitar. He also added three extra strings, creating unison pairs for the first and second courses and an octave pair for the fourth course.

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Popular tags: blues, delta blues, guitar, blues guitar, old blues  See more

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• Baby Please Don't Go
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• These Are My Blues
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• Big Joe Williams and the Stars of Mississippi…
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1		Baby Please Don't Go			209
2		Baby, Please Don't Go			63
3		Highway 49			57
4		Peach Orchard Mama			53
5		Wild Cow Blues			43
6		Brother James			41
6		Stepfather Blues			41
8		Don't Want No Big Fat Woman			31
9		Rootin' Ground Hog			24
10		Providence help the poor people			21
10		Providence Help the Poor People (Remastered)			21
12		Crawlin' King Snake			19
13		Worried Man Blues			18
14		I Know You Gonna Miss Me			16
14		Terraplane Blues			16

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