William Lee Conley Broonzy was born in Scott County, Mississippi ,on June 26, 1883. In addition, another source says Broonzy had a twin sister name Lannie Broonzy who says she has proof that she was born in 1898, on June 26. This would have proved that Broonzy was five years younger than he pretended. Big Bill was the son of Frank Broonzy and Mittie Belcher, who also had seventeen other children (Bruynoghe 9). During this time period, many black men added years to their age either to get a job or join the military, so o the exact date of Broonzy's birth is not clear
Broonzy's life as a child was hard because he received only minimal schooling. He had to quite school to help his sharecropping family around the house. Before he moved to Arkansas, Broonzy had learned how to play the fiddle from his uncle Jerry Belcher. At the age of fourteen, he start working for tips at country dances, picnics, and played for the church (Broonzy). During the years 1912-1917, he worked part time as a preacher and violinist. Also, Broonzy served in the US Army during World War I. After his discharge, he returned back to Arkansas. This is when he decided that farming was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He wanted to make his living as a guitar player and singer. In 1924, Broonzy moved to Chicago to start his music career partly because of all the racism that was happening in the South. Under the guidance of Papa Charlie Jackson, Broonzy learned how to play the guitar. In the 1930s Broonzy became known as one of the major artist on the Chicago Blues scene. During this time he performed with other top blues artist in Chicago-- like Memphis Minnie, Tampa Red, Jazz Gillum, Lonnie Johnson, and John Lee Sonny Boy Williamson. Also, while trying to make it in the music business, he worked as a janitor and maintenance man (Big Bill Broonzy).
In 1938, Broonzy per formed at John Hammonds famous Spiritual and Swing concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This was the first time that he had ever performed in front of a white audience. After the concert, people start calling him Big Bill Broonzy. At this time Broonzy received newfound fame as the father of Chicago blues until World War II (Broonzy). He was one of the best known blues players and recorded over 260 blues songs, including Feelin Low Down, Remember Big Bill, Make Me Getaway, and Big Bill Broonzy Sings Country Blues (Brewer 15). His recording career spanned five long decades, as he traveled from Mississippi to Chicago and even to Europe, where he became well-known. There are forty-two of his
After the arrival of artists like Muddy Waters and the playing of the electric guitar, Broonzy's brand of blues was pushed aside. Rather than retire, he changed his style of music to folk blues. In 1951, Broonzy toured Europe where he performed standard blues, traditional folk tunes, and spirituals to appreciative audiences. The following year Broonzy returned to Europe with pianist Blind John Davis. He opened the doors for other American blues artists to tour there as well. In 1955, with the help of writer Yannick Bruynoghe, he told the story of his life in the book Big Bill Broonzy. This book was originally published in London. Big Bill Broonzy's book was one of the first autobiographies by a blues man (Big Bill Broonzy). In 1957, William Lee Conley Broonzy was diagnosed with throat cancer. He continued to perform, although he had with great pain, until he died of throat cancer on August 15, 1958. In 1980, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame.
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Here's a video that was captured of me offering my bottleneck slide interpretation of an old blues song, Goin' T' Brownsville, on open mic night at Old Strokers in Everett, WA. It starts out with me briefly introducing my homemade "Nobro" resophonic guitar and explaining some of the various recycled garage sale junk that I used in it's construction. Enjoy!
Just dropping by to say Hi and see what you’re up to and how you are doing.
As always, wishing you well. Stay positive, productive & purpose driven.
Peace
Michael
Eh-up. Just wanted to let you know that our new album, The Strange Cargo Cult of The Bottletop Millionaires is out now. Available to buy on cd baby, i-tunes and amazon.com
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Tonight, June 26th on The South Side ~ a birthday tribute to one of the greats, Big Bill Broonzy. Lots of his tunes, some by him, some by other artists.
I’m selling my blues collection which consists of 70 cds that includes 4 double cd set and a box set. This includes basically all the major artists that recorded from the 1920’s to the 1960’s as well as a few modern artists. Some of these artists are Blind Lemon Jefferson, Barbeque Bob, Furry Lewis, Blind Blake, Charlie Patton, Leadbelly, Tommy Johnson, Ma rainey, Memphis Minnie, Lonnie Johnson and the list goes on and on. Very rare cds in excellent condition so if you’re interested please send me a message here on myspace!!
