Big Bill Broonzy
Big Bill Broonzy (June 26, 1903 - August 15, 1958) was a prolific American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s when he played country blues to mostly black audiences. Through the 1930s and 1940s he successfully navigated a transition in style to a more urban blues sound popular with white 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 during his lifetime, including both adaptations of traditional folk songs and original blues songs. As a blues composer, he was unique in that his compositions reflected the many vantage points of his rural-to-urban experiences. Eric Clapton famously covered one of Big Bill's songs "Hey Hey" that can be seen played live by clicking HERE.
Early Years
Born Lee Conley Bradley, "Big Bill" was one of Frank Broonzy (Bradley) and Mittie Belcher's 17 children. His birth site and date are disputed. While he claimed birth in Bolivar County, Mississippi, an entire body of emerging research suggests that Broonzy was actually born in Jefferson COunty, Arkansas. Broonzy claimed he was born in 1893 and many sources report that year, but after his death, family records suggested that the year was actually 1903. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where Bill spent his youth. He began playing music at an early age. At the age of 10, he made himself a fiddle from a cigar box and learned how to play spirituals and folk songs from his uncle, Jerry Belcher. he and a friend named Louis Carter, who played a homemade guitar, began performing at social and church functions. These early performances included playing at "two-stages"; picnics where whites danced on one side of the stage, and blacks on the other.
Circle Pines Center
In the late 1950s, Bill spent some time at Circle Pines Center working in the kitchen. During that time, legendary folk singer Pete Seeger paid the center a visit and made a recording of Big Bill playing songs on the farmhouse front steps (see below). Circle Pines Center is proud to be dedicating a tribute at this year's Buttermilk Jamboree to Big Bill Broonzy and the influence he's had on not only the history of the blues, but also the history of Circle Pines.
Early Years
Born Lee Conley Bradley, "Big Bill" was one of Frank Broonzy (Bradley) and Mittie Belcher's 17 children. His birth site and date are disputed. While he claimed birth in Bolivar County, Mississippi, an entire body of emerging research suggests that Broonzy was actually born in Jefferson COunty, Arkansas. Broonzy claimed he was born in 1893 and many sources report that year, but after his death, family records suggested that the year was actually 1903. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where Bill spent his youth. He began playing music at an early age. At the age of 10, he made himself a fiddle from a cigar box and learned how to play spirituals and folk songs from his uncle, Jerry Belcher. he and a friend named Louis Carter, who played a homemade guitar, began performing at social and church functions. These early performances included playing at "two-stages"; picnics where whites danced on one side of the stage, and blacks on the other.
Circle Pines Center
In the late 1950s, Bill spent some time at Circle Pines Center working in the kitchen. During that time, legendary folk singer Pete Seeger paid the center a visit and made a recording of Big Bill playing songs on the farmhouse front steps (see below). Circle Pines Center is proud to be dedicating a tribute at this year's Buttermilk Jamboree to Big Bill Broonzy and the influence he's had on not only the history of the blues, but also the history of Circle Pines.
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This note from Pete Seeger reads: Dear Circle Pines, I'm so glad you are still going strong. I'll never forget my visit with you in '57. Big Bill Broonzy was there. He said, "Pete, you better film me now, I'm going under the knife tomorrow." He never sang again. Keep on - all of you Pete (found on the wall of Circle Pines Center) |
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Big Bill Broonzy in the farmhouse dining room
