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CHRONOLOGY |
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BIG BILL BROONZY
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| Possible birth of William Lee Conley Broonzy, June 26 in Scott, Mississippi. See bio | The Broonzy family leaves Mississippi for Pine Bluff, Arkansas. | Big Bill manufactures a violin with parts of a cigar box, and a guitar with his friend Louis Carter. | William and Louis start to appear fish fries and local festivals. | William Broonzy joins the US Army. | Continuing to work as an amateur violinist, Bill took up various odd jobs. In this year Big Bill Broonzy left Arkansas for Chicago. |
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| Bill learns how to play of the guitar, by listening to and watching other Chicago bluesmen. He is taught some stuff by Papa Charley Jackson | Big Bill Broonzy records his first titles with John Thomas (Tomps) on second guitar. House Rent Stomp, Big Bill Blues, Gonna Tear It Down and Tod Pail Blue, Dying Day Blues which will not be released by Paramount. | In November Big Bill returns to the studio and cuts House Rent Stomp, which this time will be put on sale. | New sessions in the studio, as a leader of The Famous Hokum Boys which include , Georgia Tom and Frank Brasswell. | Big Bill
appears in many Chicago clubs
| Records for Bluebird the label belonging to Victor Melrose as well as for Okeh, and Vocalion, Big Bill records some of his more beautiful titles. In November, he cuts She Caught the Train, The Dozens, Don' t Tear my Clothes and Ash Hauler, Jazz Gillum is present at the sessions |
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| Big Bill Broonzy takes part in the first Carnegie Hall concert: From Spirituals to Swing bringing his music to a wider American public. | Big Bill records new masterpieces: Make my Get Away, Looking for My Baby, My Mellow Man, Knockin' Myself Out, Wee Wee Blues. Including sessions in which he accompanied others he was in the studio for 41 sessions. | Big Bill Broonzy continues his career in Europe. Helped by Hugues Panassié, he takes the blues to France. Recordings - Including Black, Brown & White - for Vogue. | On return to Chicago, he records for Chess Records, the most famous label in Post War Chicago Blues. | Big Bill performs in Parisian clubs. | August 15, 1958, Big Bill Broonzy dies in Chicago from complications with cancer. Many blues men including Muddy Waters attend his funeral |