"Alex or Aleck Miller (né Ford, possibly December 5, 1912[3][a] – May 24, 1965),[4] known later in his career as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter.[2] He was an early and influential blues harp stylist who recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s. Miller used various names, including Rice Miller and Little Boy Blue, before calling himself Sonny Boy Williamson, which was also the name of a popular Chicago blues singer and harmonica player. To distinguish the two, Miller has been referred to as Sonny Boy Williamson II."
He was a remarkable harmonica player as well as a singer and he seamlessly switching between his vocals and playing the harmonica. He was a popular performer who had a radio program, King Biscuit Time, sponsored by a flour company and he was so popular, that they sold cornmeal named after him. He first recorded for the Jackson, Mississippi Trumpet label backed such musicians as Joe Willie Wilkins, Willie Love, Elmore James. He also played on Elmore's original Trumpet recording of "Dust My Broom." Later he would move north and record for the Chess Brothers' Checker subsidiary. He achieved international notoriety when he traveled to Europe as part of the American Folk Blues Festival Tours. Later he toured England and played with such up-and-coming bands as The Yardbirds and The Animals.
He died in May1965 after returning to the United States from Europe.
We start this brief playlist with one of his first Trumpet recordings, "Nine Below Zero." He would re-record this for Checker.
Among his earliest recordings when he moved to Chicago was "All My Love In Vain." Robert Lockwood, Jr., who played with Sonny Boy before he moved north, was on many of the early Checker sessions.
When I first got into blues, one of my favorite Sonny Boy numbers was "Help Me." When Junior Wells recorded his tribute to Sonny Boy, he sang this song.
Next up is the moody, surreal "Unseen Eye."
Lastly, we have a video of him performing in Europe.
As a special bonus, we have him performing with Rashaan Roland Kirk in Copenhagen.
Certainly hope you enjoyed this week's dose of blues.
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