Date: Sat, 25 Nov 1995 17:15:00 +0800 From: Matthew Zuckerman (matthew.zuckerman@IAC-ONLINE.COM) Subject: Big Bill Broonzy and the Blues>nobody today has even heard of Big Bill Broonzy, who was a pianist
- Actually, Broonzy was a guitarist, and he is one of the most famous blues singers of all time.
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William Lee Conley Broonzywas born on June 26, 1893 in Scott, Mississippi. He first worked as a farm hand, playing violin in churches or at local parties and picnics. He served in the army 1918-19 and started learning the guitar in the early 1920s, often accompanying blues pianists in Chicago. He made his first recordings in Chicago in 1927 and in the 1930s he became one of the most popular city blues singers and guitarists. He often recorded with drums, piano, bass and a couple of horns and played some of the most sophisticated blues of the time.
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In 1938, John Hammond (the same man who would sign Dylan to Columbia 24 years later) was organizing Spirituals to Swing, a concert at Carnegie Hall which was to trace black American music from its earliest orogins right up to modern jazz -- which at that time was epitomized by Count Basie, Charlie Christian and Lester Young. Blues was, of course, heavily featured, and he wanted Robert Johnson to appear. However, Johnson had died a little before, and Big Bill Broonzy was chosen instead. Broonzy was one of the hits of the show and his popularity rose even further.
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In the 1940s, Broonzy played with Sonny Boy Williamson (I), Memphis Minnie (one of Dylan's favourite singers), Memphis Slim and others. By the early 1950s, Chicago blues had become a much harder affair, Muddy Waters leading the way and Howlin' Wolf and Sonny boy Williamson (II) soon following. Broonzy started to play more of an "unplugged" style that appealed more to white audiences. Then in 1951 he was invited to England, and until his death in 1958, he made annual trips to Europe and is usually creditted as the one who sowed the seeds for the British blues boom of the 1960s. When he became too sick to make the trip in 1958, he persuaded Muddy Waters to take his place. Muddy (with pianist Otis Spann) accepted and went over with his electric guitar. Purist blues fans in England were shocked, but teenagers Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were in the audience, and we all know what happened from here.
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Broonzy wrote his autobiography "Big Bill Blues" in 1955. It was originally published by Cassell & Co. but the last I heard, Da Capo had it out in paperback. It's a pretty good book, though he was too good natured to tell the whole truth. To hear some of the real stories (and some real good music), look for "Blues In The Mississippi Night" with Broonzy, Memphis Slim and Sonny Boy Williamson I reminiscing, singing and playing.
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He was known for his rendition of "When Did You Leave Heaven?" which Dylan recorded in 1988, and wrote "Key To The Highway" which Bob played at The Edge in September.
