Blind Willie McTell
Blind Willie McTell (born William Samuel McTier; May 5, 1898 – August 19, 1959) was a Piedmont blues and ragtime singer and guitarist. He played with a fluid, syncopated fingerstyle guitar technique, common among many exponents of Piedmont blues. Unlike his contemporaries, he came to use twelve-string guitars exclusively. McTell was also an adept slide guitarist, unusual among ragtime bluesmen. His vocal style, a smooth and often laid-back tenor, differed greatly from many of the harsher voices of Delta bluesmen such as Charley Patton. McTell performed in various musical styles, including blues, ragtime, religious music and hokum. McTell was born in Thomson, Georgia. He learned to play the guitar in his early teens. He soon became a street performer in several Georgia cities, including Atlanta and Augusta, and first recorded in 1927 for Victor Records. He never produced a major hit record, but he had a prolific recording career with different labels and under different names in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1940, he was recorded by the folklorist John A. Lomax and Ruby Terrill Lomax for the folk song archive of the Library of Congress. He was active in the 1940s and 1950s, playing on the streets of Atlanta, often with his longtime associate Curley Weaver. Twice more he recorded professionally. His last recordings originated during an impromptu session recorded by an Atlanta record store owner in 1956. McTell died three years later, having lived for years with diabetes and alcoholism. Despite his lack of commercial success, he was one of the few blues musicians of his generation who continued to actively play and record during the 1940s and 1950s. He did not live to see the American folk music revival, in which many other bluesmen were "rediscovered". McTell's influence extended over a wide variety of artists, including the Allman Brothers Band, who covered his "Statesboro Blues", and Bob Dylan, who paid tribute to him in his 1983 song "Blind Willie McTell", the refrain of which is "And I know no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell". Other artists influenced by McTell include Taj Mahal, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Ralph McTell, Chris Smither, Jack White, and the White Stripes. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-40308 | 10-in. | 10/18/1927 | Writing paper blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-40309 | 10-in. | 10/18/1927 | Stole rider blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-40310 | 10-in. | 10/18/1927 | Mamma, tain't long fo' day | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-40311 | 10-in. | 10/18/1927 | Mr. McTell got the blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-47185 | 10-in. | 10/17/1928 | Three women blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-47186 | 10-in. | 10/17/1928 | Dark night blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-47187 | 10-in. | 10/17/1928 | Statesboro blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-47188 | 10-in. | 10/17/1928 | Loving talking blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar | composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56596 | 10-in. | 11/26/1929 | Tucaloosa Blue Front | Harris and Harris | Female-male vocal duet, with clarinet, banjo, and guitar | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-56597 | 10-in. | 11/26/1929 | Teasing brown | Harris and Harris | Male vocal solo, with dialogue and instrumental trio | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-56598 | 10-in. | 11/26/1929 | Death room blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56599 | 10-in. | 11/26/1929 | Drive away blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56600 | 10-in. | 11/26/1929 | Hard driving momma | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56609 | 10-in. | 11/27/1929 | Get back blues | Harris and Harris | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and kazoo | instrumentalist, kazoo, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-56610 | 10-in. | 11/27/1929 | This is not the stove to brown your bread | Harris and Harris ; Blind Willie McTell | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and kazoo | instrumentalist, kazoo, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-56611 | 10-in. | 11/27/1929 | What do I care | Harris and Harris | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and kazoo | instrumentalist, guitar, kazoo | |
Victor | BVE-56612 | 10-in. | 11/27/1929 | Learning something blues | Alfoncy Harris | Male vocal solo, with guitar and kazoo | instrumentalist, guitar, kazoo | |
Victor | BVE-56631 | 10-in. | 11/29/1929 | Blue sea blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56632 | 10-in. | 11/29/1929 | South Georgia bound blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56633 | 10-in. | 11/29/1929 | Mr. McTell's sorrowful moan | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56634 | 10-in. | 11/29/1929 | Weary hearted blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56635 | 10-in. | 11/29/1929 | Love changing blues | Blind Willie McTell | Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) | lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-71603 | 10-in. | 2/22/1932 | Rollin' mama blues | Ruby Glaze ; Hot Shot Willie | Mixed vocal duet, with 2 guitars | songwriter, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-71604 | 10-in. | 2/22/1932 | Lonesome day blues | Ruby Glaze ; Hot Shot Willie | Mixed vocal duet, with 2 guitars | vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-71605 | 10-in. | 2/22/1932 | Let me scoop for you | Ruby Glaze ; Hot Shot Willie | Mixed vocal duet, with 2 guitars | vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-71606 | 10-in. | 2/22/1932 | Searching the desert for the blues | Ruby Glaze ; Hot Shot Willie | Mixed vocal duet, with 2 guitars | vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W149299 | 10-in. | 10/30/1929 | Atlanta strut | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W149300 | 10-in. | 10/30/1929 | Travelin' blues | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W149301 | 10-in. | 10/30/1929 | Cigarette blues | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W149302 | 10-in. | 10/30/1929 | Come on around to my house mama | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W149318 | 10-in. | 10/31/1929 | Real jazz mama | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W149319 | 10-in. | 10/31/1929 | Kind mama | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W150257 | 10-in. | 4/17/1930 | Talking to myself | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W150258 | 10-in. | 4/17/1930 | Razor Ball | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W151904 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Southern can is mine | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W151905 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Broke down engine blues | Blind Sammie | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W151906 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Experience blues | Ruth Day | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W151907 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Painful blues | Ruth Day | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar | |
OKeh | W405002 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Stomp down rider | Georgia Bill | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar | |
OKeh | W405003 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Scarey day blues | Georgia Bill | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar | |
OKeh | W405004 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Rough alley blues | Mary Willis | Female vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar | |
OKeh | W405005 | 10-in. | 10/23/1931 | Talkin' to you wimmin' about the blues | Mary Willis | Female vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar | |
OKeh | W405084 | 10-in. | 10/31/1931 | Low riders blues | Georgia Bill | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W405085 | 10-in. | 10/31/1931 | Georgia rag | Georgia Bill | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W405086 | 10-in. | 10/31/1931 | Low down blues | Mary Willis | Female vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar | |
OKeh | W405087 | 10-in. | 10/31/1931 | Merciful blues | Mary Willis | Female vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Atlantic | 320 | 10-in. | October 1949 | Kill it, kid | Blind Willie McTell | songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 323 | 10-in. | October 1949 | Broke-down engine blues | Blind Willie McTell | vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | C 9934 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Ain't it grand to be a Christian | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9935 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | We got to meet death one day | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9936 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Don't let nobody turn you 'round | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9937 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | I got religion, I'm so glad | Blind Willie McTell | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | C 9938 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Tricks ain't walking no more-1 | Curley Weaver | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | C 9940 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Oh lawdy Mama | Curley Weaver | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | C 9941 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Two faced woman | Curley Weaver | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | C 9942 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Early morning blues | Curley Weaver | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | C 9943 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Fried pie blues | Curley Weaver | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | C 9944 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Dying gambler | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9945 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | God don't like it | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9946 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Bell Street blues | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9947 | 10-in. | 4/23/1935 | Let me play with your yo-yo | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9952 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Lay some flowers on my grave | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9953 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Death room blues | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9954 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Ticket agent blues-2 | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9955 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Dying doubter blues | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9956 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Cold Winter day | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9957 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Your time to worry | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9958 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Cooling board blues | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
Decca | C 9959 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Hillbilly Willie's blues | Blind Willie McTell | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McTell, Blind Willie," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103817.
McTell, Blind Willie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103817.
"McTell, Blind Willie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Blind Willie McTell
Discogs: Blind Willie McTell
Allmusic: Blind Willie McTell
Grove: Blind Willie McTell
IMDb: Blind Willie McTell
Britannica: Blind Willie McTell
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: McTell, Blind Willie - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82122641
Wikidata: Blind Willie McTell - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q181689
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/100315623
MusicBrainz: Blind Willie McTell - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/81e02e29-e46a-49cb-bf13-d204cbe86daa
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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