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Big Bill Broonzy

Big Bill Broonzy (born Lee Conley Bradley; June 26, 1893 or 1903 – August 14, 1958) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s, when he played country music to mostly African-American audiences. In the 1930s and 1940s, he navigated a change in style to a more urban blues sound popular with working-class black audiences. In the 1950s, a return to his traditional folk-blues roots made him one of the leading figures of the emerging American folk music revival and an international star. His long and varied career marks him as one of the key figures in the development of blues music in the 20th century.

Broonzy copyrighted more than 300 songs, including adaptations of traditional folk songs and original blues songs. As a blues composer, he was unique in writing songs that reflected his rural-to-urban experiences.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 26, 1893 (Scott County), Died August 14, 1958 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, composer, lyricist, songwriter, speaker

Notes: Often billed as Big Bill; composer credits as Williard Broonzy.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 101-125 of 232 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-059497 10-in. 4/1/1941 Old Taylor Memphis Slim Male vocal solo, with piano, bass cano, and extra male vocal vocalist  
Victor BS-064002 10-in. 4/1/1941 Whiskey store blues Memphis Slim Male vocal solo, with piano and bass cano vocalist  
Victor BS-064130 10-in. 4/23/1941 Why don't you do it right? Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064131 10-in. 4/23/1941 Love me Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064132 10-in. 4/23/1941 I'm going to copyright your kisses Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064133 10-in. 4/23/1941 What's the matter with love? Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064134 10-in. 4/23/1941 Country boy blues Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio composer, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064135 10-in. 4/23/1941 How can I go on Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064477 10-in. 6/26/1941 Life is just a book Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064478 10-in. 6/26/1941 I'm not the lad Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064479 10-in. 6/26/1941 My feet jumped salty Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064480 10-in. 6/26/1941 Flying crow blues Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064481 10-in. 6/26/1941 Levee camp blues Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064482 10-in. 6/26/1941 I'm feeling low down Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064483 10-in. 6/26/1941 Brown and yellow woman blues Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064484 10-in. 6/26/1941 She belongs to the devil Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064727 10-in. 7/23/1941 Hello babe Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064728 10-in. 7/23/1941 If I didn't love you Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064729 10-in. 7/23/1941 Let's be friends Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BS-064730 10-in. 7/23/1941 Because I love my daddy so Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064731 10-in. 7/23/1941 I'm going to start a racket Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064732 10-in. 7/23/1941 You're just full of jive Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064737 10-in. 7/24/1941 Riley Springs blues Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with washtub band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064738 10-in. 7/24/1941 That's what worries me Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with washtub band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064739 10-in. 7/24/1941 I got somebody else Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with washtub band instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 101-125 of 232 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Broonzy, Big Bill," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.

Broonzy, Big Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.

"Broonzy, Big Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656

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