willie brown

Biography

Willie Lee Brown, born on August 6, 1900 near Clarksdale, Mississippi, was one of the pioneering figures of the Mississippi Delta blues. The son of sharecroppers, Brown grew up in the rural South, where he honed his guitar skills on plantations in Sunflower County. Known for his quiet demeanor and diminutive stature, he was often called 'Little Willie Brown' to distinguish him from another bluesman, Big Willie Brown. Brown developed a distinctive guitar style marked by a 'slapping of the first bass string,' and he preferred to play as a sideman rather than a frontman, rarely singing while performing. His musical career began in earnest after World War I, when he and fellow guitarist Willie Moore formed an itinerant duo, entertaining audiences on plantations and street corners. Brown's association with legendary bluesmen Charley Patton and Son House was central to his career, and he accompanied them on recording sessions for Paramount Records in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He recorded several sides under his own name, including 'M & O Blues' and 'Future Blues,' and continued to perform with House and others until the 1940s. After his last known recordings with Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress in 1941, Brown returned to sharecropping and died on December 30, 1952, from complications related to alcoholism.

Brown's legacy as a guitarist and sideman is significant, though he remains less celebrated than some of his contemporaries. His subtle, supportive playing style influenced the development of Delta blues, and his recordings are considered essential to the genre's history. Brown's impact is evident in the work of later blues musicians, and his name is mentioned in Robert Johnson's 'Cross Road Blues,' though it is unclear which Willie Brown Johnson was referencing. Despite his quiet personality and reluctance to seek the spotlight, Brown's contributions to the blues have been recognized as foundational to the genre.

Fun Facts

• Willie Brown was known as 'Little Willie Brown' to distinguish him from another bluesman, Big Willie Brown, who was physically larger and more outgoing.
• Brown preferred not to sing while playing guitar and was known for his supportive, sideman style rather than as a frontman.
• He was drafted into the US Army in 1918 but never saw combat, as World War I ended while he was still in basic training.
• Brown's last known recordings were made by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress in 1941, after which he returned to sharecropping.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Charley Patton - Musical mentor and frequent collaborator (Paramount Records sessions (1929–1930)) [1920s–1930s]
• Son House - Close musical associate and collaborator (Paramount Records sessions, live performances) [1920s–1940s]

Key Collaborators

• Charley Patton - Traveling and recording partner (Paramount Records sessions, live performances) [1920s–1930s]
• Son House - Frequent musical partner and bandmate (Paramount Records sessions, live performances) [1920s–1940s]
• Willie Moore - Itinerant musical duo partner (Plantation and street performances) [1910s–1920s]
• Tommy Johnson - Occasional collaborator (Live performances in Memphis area) [1930s–1940s]
• Memphis Minnie - Occasional collaborator (Live performances in Memphis area) [1930s–1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Robert Johnson - Referenced Brown in 'Cross Road Blues' and was influenced by his style (Cross Road Blues) [1930s]
• Later Delta blues musicians - Brown's guitar style and sideman approach influenced the development of Delta blues (Various Delta blues recordings) [1930s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Future Blues (Giants)
2. Walking Blues (Son House Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942)
3. Levee Camp Blues (Son House Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942)
4. Future Blues (Two Men on Fire - The Blues Brothers of the Delta)
5. Future Blues (American Epic: The Best of Blues)
6. Government Fleet Blues (Son House Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942)
7. M & O Blues (Giants)
8. Camp Hollers (Son House Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942)
9. Future Blues (American Epic: The Collection)
10. Future Blues (Masters Of The Delta Blues: The Friends Of Charlie Patton)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia