Big Bill Broonzy
Big Bill Broonzy (born Lee Conley Bradley; June 26, 1893 or 1903 – August 14, 1958) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s, when he played country music to mostly African-American audiences. In the 1930s and 1940s, he navigated a change in style to a more urban blues sound popular with working-class black audiences. In the 1950s, a return to his traditional folk-blues roots made him one of the leading figures of the emerging American folk music revival and an international star. His long and varied career marks him as one of the key figures in the development of blues music in the 20th century. Broonzy copyrighted more than 300 songs, including adaptations of traditional folk songs and original blues songs. As a blues composer, he was unique in writing songs that reflected his rural-to-urban experiences. |
Birth and Death Data: Born June 26, 1893 (Scott County), Died August 14, 1958 (Chicago)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1953
Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, composer, lyricist, songwriter, speaker
Notes: Often billed as Big Bill; composer credits as Williard Broonzy.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 176-200 of 251 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BS-074653 | 10-in. | 7/30/1942 | Tell me, mama | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074654 | 10-in. | 7/30/1942 | Deep water blues | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074655 | 10-in. | 7/30/1942 | You're tearin' your playhouse down | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074656 | 10-in. | 7/30/1942 | Love me, baby | Sonny Boy Williamson | Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and imitation string bass | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074657 | 10-in. | 7/30/1942 | What's getting wrong with you? | Sonny Boy Williamson | Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and imitation string bass | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074658 | 10-in. | 7/30/1942 | Blues that made me drunk | Sonny Boy Williamson | Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and imitation string bass | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074659 | 10-in. | 7/30/1942 | Come on baby and take a walk | Sonny Boy Williamson | Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and imitation string bass | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074682 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Don't have to sing the blues | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074683 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Red River Dam blues | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074684 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Down South woman blues | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074685 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Ain't that a shame | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | composer, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074686 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | I laid my cards on the table | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BS-074687 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | I get the blues at bedtime | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | composer, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D5AB-0312 | 10-in. | 2/26/1945 | Go back to the country | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D5AB-0313 | 10-in. | 2/26/1945 | Five feet four | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar, composer | |
Victor | D5AB-0314 | 10-in. | 2/26/1945 | Afraid to trust them | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D5AB-0315 | 10-in. | 2/26/1945 | Whiskey head buddies | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D6VB-1950 | 10-in. | 9/18/1946 | Roll dem bones | Jazz Gillum | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer | |
Victor | D7VB-0316 | 10-in. | 2/18/1947 | You can't make the grade | Washboard Sam ; Washboard Sam's Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D7VB-0317 | 10-in. | 2/18/1947 | You can't have none of that | Washboard Sam ; Washboard Sam's Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D7VB-0318 | 10-in. | 2/18/1947 | I just couldn't help it | Washboard Sam ; Washboard Sam's Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D7VB-0319 | 10-in. | 2/18/1947 | Soap and water blues | Washboard Sam ; Washboard Sam's Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D7VB-0374 | 10-in. | 3/28/1947 | Mellow chick swing | Sonny Boy Williamson | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D7VB-0375 | 10-in. | 3/28/1947 | Polly put your kettle on | Sonny Boy Williamson | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | D7VB-0376 | 10-in. | 3/28/1947 | Lacey Belle | Sonny Boy Williamson | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Broonzy, Big Bill," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.
Broonzy, Big Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.
"Broonzy, Big Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Big Bill Broonzy
Discogs: Big Bill Broonzy
Allmusic: Big Bill Broonzy
Grove: Big Bill Broonzy
IMDb: Big Bill Broonzy
Britannica: Big Bill Broonzy
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Broonzy, Big Bill, 1893-1958 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no88003463
Wikidata: Big Bill Broonzy - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q449239
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/10032630
MusicBrainz: Big Bill Broonzy - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/05bc49f8-3108-44c8-82b9-ac3254896a69
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