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Sonny Boy Williamson

John Lee Curtis "Sonny Boy" Williamson (March 30, 1914 – June 1, 1948) was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. He is often regarded as the pioneer of the blues harp as a solo instrument. He played on hundreds of recordings by many pre–World War II blues artists. Under his own name, he was one of the most recorded blues musicians of the 1930s and 1940s and is closely associated with Chicago producer Lester Melrose and Bluebird Records. His popular songs, original or adapted, include "Good Morning, School Girl", "Sugar Mama", "Early in the Morning", and "Stop Breaking Down".

Williamson's harmonica style was a great influence on postwar performers. Later in his career, he was a mentor to many up-and-coming blues musicians who moved to Chicago, including Muddy Waters. In an attempt to capitalize on Williamson's fame, Aleck "Rice" Miller began recording and performing as Sonny Boy Williamson in the early 1940s, and later, to distinguish the two, John Lee Williamson came to be known as Sonny Boy Williamson I or "the original Sonny Boy".

Birth and Death Data: Born March 30, 1914 (Jackson), Died June 1, 1948 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, harmonica, piano, speaker

Notes: His compositions are often credited under his real name, John Lee Williamson.

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

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 158 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D5AB-0355 10-in. 7/12/1945 Somebody's been worrying Joe Williams Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and drums instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D5AB-0356 10-in. 7/12/1945 Wanita Joe Williams Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and drums instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D5AB-0357 10-in. 7/12/1945 Vitamin A Joe Williams Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and drums instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D5AB-0396 10-in. 10/19/1945 Early in the morning Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, harmonica, and drums vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D5AB-0397 10-in. 10/19/1945 The big boat Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, harmonica, and drums vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D5AB-0398 10-in. 10/19/1945 Stop breaking down Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, harmonica, and drums vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D5AB-0399 10-in. 10/19/1945 You're an old lady Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, harmonica, and drums vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D6VB-1917 10-in. 8/6/1946 Sonny boy's cold chills Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, composer  
Victor D6VB-1918 10-in. 8/6/1946 Mean old highway Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, composer  
Victor D6VB-1919 10-in. 8/6/1946 Hoodo hoodo Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, composer  
Victor D6VB-1920 10-in. 8/6/1946 Shake the boogie Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, composer  
Victor D7VB-0374 10-in. 3/28/1947 Mellow chick swing Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D7VB-0375 10-in. 3/28/1947 Polly put your kettle on Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D7VB-0376 10-in. 3/28/1947 Lacey Belle Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D7VB-0377 10-in. 3/28/1947 Apple tree swing Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D7VB-1036 10-in. 9/19/1947 Wonderful time Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D7VB-1037 10" 9/19/1947 Sugar gal Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D7VB-1038 10" 9/19/1947 Willow tree blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, harmonica  
Victor D7VB-1149 10-in. 11/12/1947 Little girl Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and instrumental ensemble composer, instrumentalist, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1150 10-in. 11/12/1947 Blues about my baby Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, harmonica, vocalist, composer  
Victor D7VB-1152 10-in. 11/12/1947 I love you for myself Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1153 10-in. 11/12/1947 Bring another half a pint Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, harmonica, composer, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1154 10-in. 11/12/1947 Southern dream Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1155 10-in. 11/12/1947 Rub-a-Dub Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer, instrumentalist, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1156 10-in. 11/12/1947 Better cut that out Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer, instrumentalist, harmonica, vocalist  
(Results 126-150 of 158 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Williamson, Sonny Boy," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116388.

Williamson, Sonny Boy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116388.

"Williamson, Sonny Boy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116388

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