RALPH WILLIS

    RALPH WILLIS como muchos de los bluesman se daba a conocer según le convenía con diversos seudónimos como por ejemplo SLEEPY JOE, ó WASHBOARD PETE, sea como fuere una manera de hacer muy interesante. Ralph estuvo muy vinculado a SONNY TERRY& BROWNIE McGHEE , el gran dúo de la Historia del Blues. Su potente y cálida voz nos sumergen en una escucha  envolvente de auténtico Blues. 

                         

                               

Ralph Willis, Vocal/Guitar
Recorded: New York City, 3 October 1951

                               

Ralph Willis (1910 – June 11, 1957) was an American Piedmont and country blues singer, guitarist and songwriter Some of his Savoy records were released under pseudonyms, such as Alabama Slim, Washboard Pete and Sleepy Joe.

Willis was born near Birmingham, Alabama. In the late 1930s, Willis moved to North Carolina and started to play along with musicians who were familiar with Blind Boy Fuller. Willis recorded his debut material in 1944, and continued until 1953, issuing fifty tracks via several record labels including Savoy, Signature, 20th Century, Abbey, Jubilee, Prestige, Par, and King Records

Similar to Gabriel Brown, Alec Seward and Brownie McGhee, Willis relocated to New York. Willis originally recorded singly, but record label demands saw him used more frequently with accompaniment. Judson Coleman joined Willis on his 20th Century recordings, and in 1949, McGhee was employed. His latter recordings utilised both McGhee and Sonny Terry.

Willis employed an array of musical styles from slow blues to uptempo country dance tracks. However he spurned the growing popularity of folk-blues and R&B. He was musically conscious of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Luke Jordan, but later recordings saw his guitar style leaning towards the booming resonance of Lightnin' Hopkins.

Willis died in New York in June 1957.