Sonny Boy Williamson

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There are two bluesmen known as Sonny Boy Williamson. They are colloquially referred to as Sonny Boy Williamson I and Sonny Boy Williamson II respectfully, but are of no relation.

I) Sonny Boy Williamson, also known as John Lee Curtis Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, born in Jackson, Tennessee, whose first record “Good Morning little School Girl” was a hit in 1937. He was widely popular throughout the whole southeast of the U.S., and was practically synonymous with the blues harmonica for the next decade, making his a commonly used stage name by the time he was murdered in 1948. Sonny Boy Williamson was born on 30 March 1914, and died on 1 June 1948. He is buried at the Old Blairs Chapel Church, south west of Jackson, Tennessee.

Williamson recorded prodigiously, often backed by Big Bill Broonzy, and was a fixture on the legendary “King Biscuit Radio Hour” broadcast from Helena, Arkansas. One of the reissue albums of his music featured a cover photo of Williamson performing on the hour, its details prominently displayed on the front of the bass drum.

Williamson has often been confused with the later artist, Alleck Miller, who also adopted the moniker Sonny Boy Williamson and is referred to by blues aficionados as Sonny Boy Williamson II. In fact, the two are easy to distinguish. Williamson I played the harmonica acoustically and was essentially a pre-War artist. Williamson II was entirely an electrified harpist, in the style of Little Walter, reflecting the advent of the jukebox and electrified instruments following World War II.

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