Blues Greats – The Other Sonny Boy Williamson

Most people who listen to the wonderful blues music of Sonny Boy Williamson are not really listening to the original Sonny Boy, but to someone who took his name, while he was still alive! That Sonny Boy Williams II was a tremendous blues musician is not out of the question, but the story of the original is as interesting as it is talented.

Born in 1914, John Lee Williamson is easily the foremost harmonica player of the antebellum era. Almost single-handedly, he turned the humble harmonica into a recognized and worthy lead instrument in a blues band. Many followed him, but he led the way.

He was taught the harmonica by Hammie Nixon and Noah Lewis, both noted musicians. When he was in his teens, he was recognized as a player without equal. When he was 23 years old he got his first record deal with Bluebird. Under the leadership of Lester Melrose, he seems to have rarely been out of the recording studio. There were sessions with Big Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy, Robert Nighthawk, Big Bill Broonzy and many others. During all this time he continued to learn the trade from him. From 1937 to 1947 he recorded over 110 tracks, issued on RCA.

His first vocal release on Bluebird was a sensation. “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” was a huge hit that continues to form the basis of many playlists for blues bands around the world.

What was it about this suave and gentle (unless he was drunk) man? He developed the sign and play call and response style. A line or verse that is sung and the harmonica responds, this technique is still used to great effect (listen to almost any modern blues like BB King). More than that, however, when else has a single person raised the stature of an instrument to make it respectable and valued?

If his first voice was a success, so was his last. “Better Cut That Out” was a posthumous smash hit after he was killed during a brutal attack as he was walking home from a gin mill.

As a man, he was known for his kindness. A young man (probably one of many) knocked on his door one day and asked his hero if he would teach him to play the harmonica. He happily agreed, and that boy became known as another blues giant, Billy Boy Arnold.