Page 41 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2022

Big Bill Broonzy. Photo by James J. Kriegsmann 1 Memphis Minnie 2
Big Bill Broonzy played guitar, mandolin and violin. He England, bringing the blues to European audiences and
was the most famous and highly respected artist; the patriarch gaining international recognition. He also appeared in the
of the early Chicago blues. Just like we hail Muddy these short documentaries Low Light and Blue Smoke (BBC, 1956)
days, Big Bill was held in that same respect – maybe more – and Big Bill’s Blues (Belgium, 1958), both of which can be
back in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. found on YouTube.
He arrived in Chicago in 1920 as a part of the Great In 1957, Broonzy became inactive due to numerous lung
Migration. He started off learning how to play guitar in the operations because of lung disease. He was a founding
Delta country blues style, then played and recorded as a faculty member of the Old Town School of Folk Music, and
sideman to blues singers, eventually finding work with Papa taught his first class in December 1957, but died a few
Charlie Jackson in the local clubs. As his popularity grew months later on August 15, 1958. Songs he is best known
throughout the late 1920s and early ‘30s, Broonzy began for include “Key to the Highway,” “When Did You Leave
to perform in larger local venues, from the Regal Theater in Heaven,” “Diggin’ My Potatoes,” “See See Rider” and
Chicago, to famous national venues like the Apollo Theater “John Henry.” Broonzy was a pioneer of the electric guitar
and Carnegie Hall in New York City. All the while, he still sound that is integral to the Chicago blues sound, as was
found time to tour with Chicago blues artists Memphis Minnie Memphis Minnie.
and Memphis Slim. Memphis Minnie played guitar and banjo, and has
In 1934, Broonzy partnered with producer Lester Melrose been hailed as the best female blues singer. In a Chicago
from Bluebird Records, and they both paved the way for the nightclub in 1933, she went against Big Bill Broonzy in a
rock ‘n roll and electrified Chicago blues sound that we all cutting contest – a musical battle competing for audience
love and associate with Little Walter and Muddy Waters. applause – and won first prize: a bottle of whiskey and a
Muddy Waters first heard electric guitar from Big Bill, but bottle of gin. Big Bill Broonzy said that she could “pick a
Bill went back to the Delta acoustic sound that he learned guitar and sing as good as any man I’ve ever heard.”
growing up down South. Her legendary influence to the Chicago blues began
In his career, Broonzy recorded for many labels, including around 1935 when she divorced bluesman Joe McCoy and
Paramount, Banner Records, Champion, Bluebird, ARC, established herself in Chicago performing at clubs, lounges,
ABC, Vocalion, Columbia, Okeh, Hub, Victor, United Artists, taverns and street corners, and regularly working with record
Mercury, Vogue/Jazz Society, Melodisc and Chess Records. producer and label scout Lester Melrose – the same producer
In the 1950s he toured Denmark, France, Belgium, Italy and Big Bill worked with.

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