Sonny Boy Williamson

o ya

Harp & soul

worthy of your vote.

Sonny Boy Williamson II (Alex "Rice" Miller" 1912-1965 is mentioned in more bluesmen's biographies than any single artist. As early as 1938, he and Robert Lockwood Jr. were playing electric blues through car radios and jukeboxes -- six years before Muddy Waters owned an electric guitar. King Biscuit Time (1941-date) was a major influence with its 15 minutes at lunch as the only black radio show heard by the 10% of the U. S. black population which lived within 75 miles of the radio station. Although he did not record until 1951 he was clearly a major delta blues star since 1929 0r 1930. He was the "big fish in a small bowl" that drove many bluesmen to leave for Chicago: Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, James Cotton, and more. Sonny Boy just got the jobs and promoted them on King Biscuit Time. He recorded first for Trumpet and then Chess and was one of the last delta bluesmen to move to Chicago. In 1963 he had a hit with "Help Me" (Muddy hadn't had a chart hit for eight years at... Read more

He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and creative songwriting skills. He recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s, and had a direct influence on later blues and rock performers. . Williamson's output of recordings, both issued and unissued, for Lillian McMurray's Trumpet label, can be found on Arhoolie, Alligator, Purple Pyramid, Collectables, plus a handful of other domestic and import imprints, while his years as a resident of the Chess/Checker house appear on various compilations on MCA/Chess. His European recordings reside on Alligator, Analogue Productions, Storyville, and others. Williamson had an influence on modern day blues and blues rock artists, as is shown by the number of his songs that were covered, including . Muddy Waters – "Nine Below Zero" Canned Heat – "Nine Below Zero" and "Help Me" Junior Wells – "Help Me" Howlin' Wolf – "Cool Disposition" B. B. King – "Eyesight to the Bl... Read more

A beast of a performer, unheralded

terrific blues player who influenced hundreds of future rockers from the Rolling Stones to Led Zep

Sonny boy Williamson should be enshrined in the rock and roll Hall of Fame along with fellow chessmen Willie Dixon Muddy Waters James cotton little Walter howling wolf

One of the great chicago Chess bluesmen. In both solo and as a solo harp accompanist on dozens of classic blues standards, Sonnyboy (who borrowed/took/ his name from the original 1920's Sonny Boy)' put his inique blues harmonica chops and vocals too. Immortal.

If you recorded for Chess Records in the 50s, it wasn't because the label lacked talent. Among the all time greats.

One of the all time blues greats. Rock n Roll owes a huge debt to the blues.

deserving blues influencer

Sonny Boy Williamson II was always a mystery blues artist.

most charismatic and influential blues musicians www.appsys.in

He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and creative songwriting skills. He recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s, and had a direct influence on later blues and rock performers. . Williamson's output of recordings, both issued and unissued, for Lillian McMurray's Trumpet label, can be found on Arhoolie, Alligator, Purple Pyramid, Collectables, plus a handful of other domestic and import imprints, while his years as a resident of the Chess/Checker house appear on various compilations on MCA/Chess. His European recordings reside on Alligator, Analogue Productions, Storyville, and others. Williamson had an influence on modern day blues and blues rock artists, as is shown by the number of his songs that were covered, including Muddy Waters – "Nine Below Zero" Canned Heat – "Nine Below Zero" and "Help Me" Junior Wells – "Help Me" Howlin' Wolf – "Cool Disposition" B. B. King – "Eyesight to the Blin... Read more

THE GREASTEST BLUES HARPIST OF ALL TIME.

Brilliant harpest

The one-time Aleck "Rice" Miller was a massively influential bluesman who took over the name Sonny Boy Williamson after the original harmonica-playing blues legend called Sonny Boy Williamson was killed in 1948. The "new" Sonny Boy carved out his own style with the harmonica that resulted in huge records in the early 50's, most notably "Eyesight To The Blind", his definitive recording. In addition he played with Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf (who was his brother in law), and would in future years play with the Yardbirds, Eric Burdon and The Band, all of whom were devoted followers.

Hall of Fame Blues Legend.

harp attack

blow cat blow

frogs and snakes

Premier harmonica genious. CHESS Records.

Blow like he!!

greta Chess Blues shouter & harmonica player.

this man can play the harp

In 1941 Miller was hired to play the King Biscuit Time show, advertising the King Biscuit brand of baking flour on radio station KFFA in Helena, Arkansas with Lockwood. It was at this point that the radio program's sponsor, Max Moore, began billing Miller as Sonny Boy Williamson, apparently in an attempt to capitalize on the fame of the well known Chicago-based harmonica player and singer John Lee Williamson (see Sonny Boy Williamson I). Although John Lee Williamson was a major blues star who had already released dozens of successful and widely influential records under the name "Sonny Boy Williamson" from 1937 onward, Aleck Miller would later claim to have been the first to use the name, and some blues scholars believe that Miller's assertion he was born in 1899 was a ruse to convince audiences he was old enough to have used the name before John Lee Williamson, who was born in 1914. Whatever the methodology, Miller became commonly known as "Sonny Boy Williamson," (universally disting... Read more