WeenieCampbell.com

Country Blues => Weenie Campbell Main Forum => Topic started by: Johnm on October 11, 2017, 05:22:56 PM

Title: Rhythm Willie
Post by: Johnm on October 11, 2017, 05:22:56 PM

Hi all,
I was surfing on youtube the other day and clicked on a video on "Rhythm Willie", never having heard of him before.  I suppose he may be well known to harmonica players, but if he isn't he should be.  Listen to him play "Breathtakin' Blues", his version of "St. James Infirmary" (I don't know who his backing pianist was):

https://youtu.be/vYk4SRP_8FY

Here is his "Bedroom Stomp".  He must be one of the greatest utilizers of the harmonica's upper range:

https://youtu.be/n9PTFZLCSKo

Here is "Boarding House Blues":

https://youtu.be/4orCmvgijn8

Finally, "New Block and Tackle Blues":

https://youtu.be/aF3eBjBRjs0

He seems a really amazing player to me.  Does anyone know anything about him biographically?

All best,
Johnm

Title: Re: Rhythm Willie
Post by: Prof Scratchy on October 12, 2017, 12:22:26 AM

Not a great deal seems to be known about Willie, other than his birth and death dates (1910 - 1954). Here is a short article. http://www.patmissin.com/articles/AHN5.html and a longer one here http://nighthawk.sundayblues.org/articles/RhythmWillie.pdf


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Rhythm Willie
Post by: Johnm on October 12, 2017, 10:01:57 AM

Thanks for posting those finds, Prof.  I'm not at all up on what Rhythm Willie was doing technically on the harmonica, but it sounds like his approach was quite unusual for his time and place.  And he died way too young--44 years old!
All best,
Johnm

Title: Re: Rhythm Willie
Post by: Mr.OMuck on October 12, 2017, 11:22:51 AM

Of course I dropped a line to Mighty Joe Bellulovich Harmonica player extraordinaire, former busking partner and co-member of our short lived "Academy of Ancient Blues". His reply:


"One of the Greatest! !!! One of my favorites  also !!"

Title: Re: Rhythm Willie
Post by: randyweinstein on October 18, 2017, 10:29:15 AM

Here's a collection of his recordings with Earl Bostic, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Lee Brown.
https://www.amazon.com/Harmonica-Blues-Essentials-Rhythm-Willie/dp/B003IOSAV6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508347169&sr=8-1&keywords=%22rhythm+willie%22+harmonica

Title: Re: Rhythm Willie
Post by: Mike Billo on October 20, 2017, 06:54:25 AM

There's five cuts by him on Wolf WSE 106 CD Harmonica Blues (1929-40)

There are also 4 cuts on RST's Harps, Jugs, Washboards and Kazoos. Liner notes by Howard Rye say that there is speculation that Rhythm Willie was White (although Rye doubts it)

Title: Re: Rhythm Willie
Post by: oddenda on October 20, 2017, 05:20:09 PM

"Rhythm" Willie Hood died in 1945 [Chicago Defender - 22 May]. Scott Dirks did a piece on him for BLUES & RHYTHM (# 127 - Mar 1998, pp.4-9.)

pbl

Title: Re: Rhythm Willie
Post by: Prof Scratchy on October 22, 2017, 02:06:10 AM

1954, Peter. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagodefender/doc/492956792.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=May+29%2C+1954&author=&pub=The+Chicago+Defender+%28National+edition%29+%281921-1967%29&edition=&startpage=18&desc=%27Rhythm+Willie%27+Hood%2C+Harmonica+Ace%2C+Dead


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk