Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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McTELL, Blind Willie

(b 5 May 1901, Thomson GA; d 19 August 1959, Midgeville GA) Blues singer, twelve-string guitarist, also played accordion, harmonica, kazoo, violin. He was born blind; hoboed around the South; worked as a singing carhop at a drive-in restaurant in Atlanta late '40s, and was active as a preacher in his last years. He first recorded for Victor '27-9, many other labels including Atlantic '49-50, Prestige-Bluesville '56 (LP Last Session). A great folk poet, closer to the more delicate Piedmont mould than the harsher, more familiar Delta style. CD collections: Early Years '27-33 and Doing That Atlanta Strut '27-35 on Yazoo; Complete Bluebird Recordings '27-32 on Bluebird, two-CD The Definitive on Columbia, Pig'n Whistle Red and 13 beautiful '40 tracks on Leadbelly And Blind Willie McTell: Masters Of The Country Blues (eight of Leadbelly's), both on Biograph.