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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 151-158 of 158 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 70486 10-in. 3/12/1942 Shake it but don't break it-1, 2 Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 70487 10-in. 3/12/1942 I'll bring home the bacon for you, baby-1 Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 70488 10-in. 3/12/1942 Worried life blues Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 70489 10-in. 3/12/1942 Wee wee hours Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 71221 10-in. 7/28/1942 Savoy's jumpin' Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 71222 10-in. 7/28/1942 Reverse the charges Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 71223 10-in. 7/28/1942 Rubber bounce Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 71224 10-in. 7/28/1942 Honey it must be love Sonny Boy Williams instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 151-158 of 158 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Williamson, Sonny Boy," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116388.

Williamson, Sonny Boy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116388.

"Williamson, Sonny Boy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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