Blind Willie McTell

Biography

Blind Willie McTell was a Georgia songster whose smooth tenor and fluid twelve string fingerpicking defined Piedmont blues. Blind from birth, he based himself in Atlanta and recorded from 1927 for many labels under aliases such as Blind Sammie, Georgia Bill and Hot Shot Willie. His repertoire spanned blues, ragtime, gospel and popular song, and his 'Statesboro Blues' became a standard later popularized by the *Allman Brothers Band*. He recorded for *John Lomax* in 1940, cut postwar sessions for #Atlantic Records#, and left a final tape in 1956, issued as 'Last Session' after his death.