Sonny Boy Williamson II

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Sonny Boy Williamson II bigraphy, stories - American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter

Sonny Boy Williamson II : biography

December 5, 1912 (uncertain) – May 26, 1965

Alex Miller (possibly December 5, 1912 – May 25, 1965), Although his gravestone at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5341 gives a different date for his death, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas states that "the birth date on his tombstone is almost certainly incorrect and the death date wrong beyond any doubt" known professionally as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills. He recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s, and had a direct influence on later blues and rock performers.

Legacy

Recording anthology

Some of his better known songs include "Don’t Start Me To Talkin’" (his only major hit, it reached the #3 position on the national Billboard R&B charts in 1955),"Fattenin’ Frogs for Snakes", "Keep It To Yourself", "Your Funeral and My Trial", "Bye Bye Bird", "Nine Below Zero", "Help Me", "Checkin’ Up on My Baby", and the infamous "Little Village", with dialogue ‘unsuitable for airplay’ with Leonard Chess. His song "Eyesight to the Blind" was performed by The Who as a key song in their rock opera Tommy (the only song in that opus not written by a band member) and it was later covered on the Aerosmith album Honkin’ on Bobo. His "One Way Out", reworked from Elmore James and recorded twice in the early 1960s, became popularized by The Allman Brothers Band in the early 1970s. In interviews in The Last Waltz, roots-rockers The Band recount jamming with Miller prior to their initial fame as Bob Dylan’s electric backing band, and making never-realized plans to become his backing band. Many of his most famous recordings appeared on The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson and His Best.

Musical influence

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 are still 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 Blind"
  • Mose Allison – "Eyesight to the Blind"
  • John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – "Help Me", "Checkin’ Up on My Baby"
  • Led Zeppelin – "Bring It On Home"
  • Van Morrison – "Take Your Hands Out of My Pocket", "Help Me" – both on the 1974 live album It’s Too Late to Stop Now. Morrison has often sung "Help Me" in live performances throughout his long career.
  • The Allman Brothers Band – "One Way Out"
  • New York Dolls – "Don’t Start Me Talkin’"
  • Ten Years After – "Help Me"
  • The Who – "Eyesight to the Blind"
  • Aerosmith – "Eyesight to the Blind"
  • Gary Moore – "Eyesight to the Blind", "Don’t Start Me To Talkin’"
  • The Blues Brothers – "From the Bottom"
  • Lester Butler – "I Cross My Heart"
  • Rory Gallagher – "My Baby, She Left Me", and "Don’t Start me Talkin"; on the Defender
  • Nine Below Zero took their band name from his song.
  • The Downchild Blues Band, also known as "Downchild", took their name from his song, "Mister Downchild".; www.linusentertainment.com.
  • John Popper of Blues Traveler notes Sonny Boy Williamson as a strong influence on his harmonica playing.
  • Joe Bonamassa – "Your Funeral and My Trial"
  • Dr. Feelgood – "Checking Up On My Baby" on their live album, Stupidity
  • The Doobie Brothers – "Don’t Start Me To Talkin’" from their album "Toulouse Street"
  • Joan Osborne – "Bring It On Home"
  • Prado Blues band – "[Help me]"