John Lee ( Sonny Boy ) Williamson. ( 1914 - 1948 )
Sonny Boy's impact on blues was prompt and profound.
Making his name with his second release,
'Good Morning, School Girl', in 1937,
he poured out songs over the next few years captivating
record-buyers and impressing fellow musicians with his
inventive compositions, chewed-over singing and the
quick-change artistry of his harmonica playing.

In his youth he was acquainted with fellow Tennesseans
Sleepy John Estes and Yank Rachell, and when he
established himself as a Bluebird recording artist in
Chicago in the late 1930,s he often worked with Rachell
as well as Big Joe Williams, Big Bill Broonzy,
Walter Davis and Robert Nighthawk.

In 10 years ( 1937 - 1947 ) he made over 100 sides,
amongst them such enduring pieces of the blues harmonica
repertoire as 'Better Cut That Out', 'Early In The Morning'
(both later recorded by Junior Wells),
'I Been Dealing With The Devil' & 'My Black Name Blues'.

He also worked productively on records accompanying
Big Joe Williams, notably on their 1940's sides for
Bluebird and Columbia like 'King Biscuit Stomp'.

His music was eagerly studied by Little Walter,
Billy Boy Arnold, Snooky Prior and many other young
harmonica players, and he would certainly have been a
figure of substance in Chicago in the 1950's, had he not
been ice-picked to death by a mugger while on his way
home from a job.