Sonny Boy Williamson

The Profile

American blues harmonica player and singer, born Aleck “Rice” Miller and widely known as Sonny Boy Williamson II. Rose to fame on the King Biscuit Time radio show in Helena, Arkansas, and became a defining voice of Chicago blues. Recorded influential sides for Trumpet and Chess/Checker, including the landmark Down and Out Blues, and toured Europe in the 1960s (including sessions in Copenhagen). Collaborated with the Yardbirds and the Animals; died in 1965.

Key figure of Chicago blues; renowned for expressive harmonica and sardonic vocals; associated with the King Biscuit Time radio program; recorded classic material for Chess/Checker; collaborated with the Yardbirds and the Animals; died in 1965.

Two reviews hail Sonny Boy Williamson’s harmonica mastery and sly vocal style. Down and Out Blues is praised as a seminal electric blues set with heavyweight Chess sidemen. Keep It to Ourselves captures an intimate, largely unplugged 1963 Copenhagen night. References include his King Biscuit Time radio breakthrough and work with the Yardbirds and Animals.