Resource id #76
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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 226-250 of 251 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gennett 16571 10-in. 5/2/1930 Tadpole blues Big Bill Johnson Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 16572 10-in. 5/2/1930 Grandma's farm Big Bill Johnson Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 16573 10-in. 5/2/1930 Skoodle do do Big Bill Johnson Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 16576 10-in. 5/2/1930 Nancy Jane Famous Hokum Boys Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 16577 10-in. 5/2/1930 Black cat rag Famous Hokum Boys Guitar duet, with talk instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 16578 10-in. 5/2/1930 Saturday night rub Famous Hokum Boys Guitar duet, with talk instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 16579 10-in. 5/2/1930 Pig meat strut Famous Hokum Boys Guitar duet, with talk instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 16580 10-in. 5/2/1930 Guitar rag Famous Hokum Boys Guitar duet, with talk instrumentalist, guitar, speaker  
Gennett 16581 10-in. 5/2/1930 Papa's getting hot Big Bill Broonzy and Frank Brasswell Male vocal duet, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17275 10-in. 11/19/1930 What's that I smell Mozelle Alderson ; Thomas Andrew Dorsey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17276 10-in. 11/19/1930 Terrible operation blues Mozelle Alderson ; Thomas Andrew Dorsey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17277 10-in. 11/19/1930 Where did you stay last night Mozelle Alderson ; Thomas Andrew Dorsey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17278 10-in. 11/19/1930 Fix it Mozelle Alderson ; Thomas Andrew Dorsey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano. instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17279 10-in. 11/19/1930 Ain't goin' there no more no. 2 Mozelle Alderson ; Hokum Boys [Thomas Andrew Dorsey and Big Bill Broonzy] Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Gennett 17280 10-in. 11/19/1930 That's the way she likes it Mozelle Alderson ; Hokum Boys [Thomas Andrew Dorsey and Big Bill Broonzy] Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Gennett 17281 10-in. 11/19/1930 The banker's blues Big Bill Broonzy Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17282 10-in. 11/19/1930 The levee blues Artists vary Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17283 10-in. 11/19/1930 That won't do Big Bill Johnson Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17284 10-in. 11/19/1930 How you want it done? Big Bill Broonzy Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17286 10-in. 11/19/1930 Leave my man alone Georgia Tom ; Jane Lucas Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17287 10-in. 11/20/1930 Hip shakin' strut Hokum Boys [Thomas Andrew Dorsey and Big Bill Broonzy] ; Jane Lucas Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, piano, and tambourine instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17288 10-in. 11/20/1930 Hokum stomp Hokum Boys [Thomas Andrew Dorsey and Big Bill Broonzy] ; Jane Lucas Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17289 10-in. 11/20/1930 Don't leave me blues Thomas Andrew Dorsey Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Gennett 17290 10-in. 11/20/1930 Been mistreated blues Georgia Tom Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62471 10-in. 8/2/1937 Country gal blues Lee Green instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 226-250 of 251 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Broonzy, Big Bill," accessed June 11, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.

Broonzy, Big Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.

"Broonzy, Big Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 11 June 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656

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