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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWHEATSTRAW, Peetie(b William Bunch, 21 Dec. '02, Ripley TN; d 21 Dec. '41, East St Louis IL) Blues singer; played guitar, piano; aka "The Devil's Son-InLaw', "High Sheriff From Hell'. Hoboed through South late '20s; teamed with Big Joe Williams to operate a club in St Louis c'39; killed in car crash. Recorded for Vocalion '30-1, Bluebird '31, Vocalion again '32, '34; Decca '34, mostly Decca to Nov. '41: more than 160 sides altogether, usually playing piano and accompanied by guitarists incl. Charlie McCoy, Kokomo Arnold, Lonnie Johnson, '40-1 by Lil Armstrong on piano plus (on a '40 date) Jonah Jones and Big Sid Catlett. Recorded every year straight through the Depression except '37: the records must have sold fairly well, yet reissues have been rare. |