Listening Now: Big Bill Broonzy

Big Bill Broozny just finished "Willie Mae Blues" from his three-cd collection titled The Big Bill Broozny Story. This is a fascinating collection that collects songs that Broozny recorded on July 12, 1957 in Chicago. The producer Bill Randle wanted to get as much material from Broozny as possible and they recorded for 10 hours, with Broozny singing and playing guitar and talking about his life and songs inbetween the music. This collection highlights those songs and conversation.

Big Bill Broozny was born William Lee Conley Broozny in 1898. He was born in Mississippi but shortly after his birth his family moved to Arkansas. He started as a sharecropper than a preacher than a singer of country blues. He moved to Chicago where he became part of the urban blues scene.

In the 50s he moved back towards country blues and became part of the growing folk movement and found a certain amount of fame. He died August 15, 1958.


Willie Mae Blues | Music Codes