Willie Brown
Source: Ecstatic Presentation
Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on 6 August 1900, Delta bluesman, Willie Brown, was largely a backup guitarist who himself recorded but few name titles. He married guitarist, Josie Mills, at age ten or eleven (consummation unknown) about twenty years before first recording for Paramount. It is debated that his initial session was on September 25th, 1929, toward 'Rowdy Blues' and 'Mississippi Bottom Blues' as Kid Bailey. If Brown wasn't using Kid Bailey as a pseudonym he may have been backing the otherwise unknown Bailey on guitar [Weenie Campbell]. Wirz at American Music (AM) also cautions that this Willie Brown is not to be confused with other William Browns.
'Rowdy Blues' Willie Brown possibly backing Kid Bailey
It is speculated that this may be Willie Brown himself as Kid Bailey
25 Sep 1929 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis TN Matrix M-211 Brunswick 7114
Composition: Kid Bailey
Brown more certainly recorded in August 1930 with Son House, they backing Louise Johnson on 'All Night Long Blues', 'Long Ways From Home' and 'On the Wall'. AM also has Brown recording a number of solo works sometime that month, among them 'Grandma Blues' and 'Sorry Blues'. AM also finds him on several titles with Charlie Patton in August 1930: 'Going to Move to Alabama', 'Moon Going Down', 'Dry Well Blues' and 'Bird Nest Bound'.
'M & O Blues' Willie Brown
Aug 1930 in Grafton WI Matrix L-413-2 Paramount 13090
Composition: Brown
'Future Blues' Willie Brown
Aug 1930 in Grafton WI Matrix L-418-2 Paramount 13090
Composition: Brown
'Dry Well Blues' Willie Brown backing Charley Patton
Aug 1930 in Grafton WI Matrix L-429-2 Paramount 13070
Composition: Patton
'Walking Blues' Willie Brown backing Son House
Recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress Matrix 4780-B-2
Sometime 28-31 Aug 1941 at Clack Store near Lake Cormorant MS
Harmonica: Leroy Williams Mandolin: Fiddlin' Joe Martin
Composition: House
'Make Me a Pallet On the Floor' Willie Brown
Recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress Matrix 4781-A-3
Sometime 28-31 Aug 1941 at Clack Store near Lake Cormorant MS Herwin 92404
Composition: Brown
'Camp Hollers' Fiddlin' Joe Martin & Willie Brown w Son House
Recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress Matrix 4781-B-1
Sometime 28-31 Aug 1941 at Clack Store near Lake Cormorant MS
Composition: House ?
'Going to Fishing' Willie Brown backing Fiddlin' Joe Martin (vocal / washboard)
Recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress Matrix 4781-B-3
Sometime 28-31 Aug 1941 at Clack Store near Lake Cormorant MS
Harmonica: Leroy Williams
Composition: Martin ?
Willie died of heart disease on December 30, 1952, in Tunica, Mississippi, too early for the blues revival in the early sixties.
Sources & References for Willie Brown:
Jason Ankeny (All Music)
Susan Sliwicki (Goldmine)
VF History (notes)
Wikipedia (Kid Bailey)
Wikipedia (Willie Brown)
Associates Musical:
Fiddlin' Joe Martin (various instruments / 1900-1975):
All Music Discogs Sunday Blues Wikipedia
Leroy Williams (harmonica): Discogs
Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Cat Discogs RYM
Recordings: Sessions:
Stefan Wirz (American Music / Kid Bailey / 1929 or 1930)
Stefan Wirz (American Music / Willie Brown / 1930/1941)
Further Reading:
Crossroads (film about Robert Johnson including Willie Brown / 1986)
Weenie Campbell Forum (Kid Bailey v Willie Brown controversy)
Ted Gioia (Kid Bailey v Willie Brown controversy)
Authority Search: VIAF
Other Profiles: Bobb Edwards (Find a Grave)
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