John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, harmonica legend: a lecture/demonstration

Sonny Boy Williamson? Many people--even those who aren't harmonica players or fans of the blues--have heard of him. But there were TWO great harmonica players named Sonny Boy Williamson, and many people don't know much about the first one: John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, native of Jackson, Tennessee.

At the invitation of Sonny Boy archivist and gravesite preservationist Michael Baker, University of Mississippi blues scholar and harmonica player Adam Gussow visited the Jackson-Madison Country Library in May 2011 to give a lecture/demonstration on the artistry of John Lee Williamson. Gussow's researches into the publishing history of Williamson's songs not only make clear that confusion about the "two Sonny Boys" exists at the highest level--i.e., where the money is being made--but suggests that Williamson's primary music publisher, Arc Music, has evolved a startling and hilarious way of drawing attention to his most widely covered song, "Good Morning Little School Girl."

Credit for the film production goes to: Steve Bowers / Baltimore Street Productions 124 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 222 Jackson, TN 38301 Produced for E+TV6 Jackson, TN

Please check out Gussow's new album, SOUTHBOUND, which mixes blues, funk, and jazz, including the Allman Brothers, Freddie King, Jimmy Reed, Hugh Masekela, Chris Botti, and much more:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/southbound_1.html

If you'd like to learn how to play blues harmonica, please visit Gussow's website, Modern Blues Harmonica:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com

Gussow's one-man band version of Williamson's "Good Morning Little School Girl" is available on iTunes and Amazon mp3s. If you're interested in learning this song, a video lesson and tab are available at Modern Blues Harmonica:

video: http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/2721206-good-morning-little-school-gir...

tab: http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/2721207-good-morning-little-school-gir...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• john
• lee
• sonny
• boy
• williamson
• adam
• gussow
• jackson
• tennessee
• good
• morning
• little
• school
• girl
• blues
• harmonica
• harp

[rresendizr]

Why in the video production on John Jee Curtis (Sonny Boy Williamson I) is Little Walter music genres and not, for example, "Good Moorning Little Scholl Girl "Sonny Boy's own?

[KudzuRunner]

@rresendizr: Great question! I had nothing whatever to do with the production, but if you hit the "see more" pane under the video, you'll find complete information about the producer and production company.  Ask them.

[MenOfLetters]

Impressive work. Need to get outfit myself with your lessons.

[belleray2]

Great Adam. Thanks

[MrDorkusMaximus]

Thanks for posting this video

[CarloFerrara1962]

un mostro di bravura ,mi piacerebbe essere capace solo la meta'e sarei in un altro mondo.ciao artista

[Rythmwillie]

Great lecture, respect for your respect for tradition!

[goshinjk]

Some good background info. Thanks.

[ToddGates]

Great lecture and demonstration -- thanks so much for posting this.

[yoncofi]

awesome, as always...