Heroes of the Blues: Big Bill Broonzy

Big Bill (1898-1958)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #22

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

Born in 1898, Bill Broonzy played violin in the vicinity of Little Rock, Arkansas, before moving to Chicago where he took up guitar in the early 1920's. He first recorded in 1927 and became a hit-maker during the next decade, enjoying a continuous recording career up to his death in 1958. He was associated with a sound rather than a signature song and his warm voice, facile touch, and strong beat earned him popularity as both a city and country blues stylist. Big Bill was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Image copyright of Shanachie Entertainment Corp.

On Sale this month Big Bill Broonzy T-Shirt

To celebrate the release of the new biography "I Feel so Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy" Keep On Truckin' Apparel is offering 20% off our Big Bill T-Shirt for the entire month of April. Available in both short and long sleeve 100% cotton tees, chose for black, white, indigo or chestnut in Sizes S-3X.

This color portrait of Broonzy was drawn by underground comic icon and musician Robert Crumb. Crumb was commissioned in the 1980's by Nick Perls of Yazoo Records to create 36 color portraits of the early great men and women who where among the first to record the blues. The portraits where then incorporated into the "Heroes of the Blues" boxed Trading Card set. Stephen Calt, well known blues historian, provided the historical text on the back of each card.

Big Bill sings, "I Feel So Good."