William Lee Conley Brunzi

Brunzi William Lee Conley (June 26, 1893, . Scott, . Mississippi - August 15, 1958, . Chicago, . Illinois) - American blues singer, . guitarist, . author of more than 300 blues, . One of the most popular country-bluesmen the prewar era and a typical representative of the first (doelektricheskoy) wave of urban Chicago blues.,

. Born into a peasant family
. As a child he studied violin. Moonlighting as a teenager, playing at weddings, dances and picnics. He served in the Army during the 1-st World War. By demobilization fermerstvoval in Arkansas. In the early 20-ies he moved to Chicago, and only in this period began to seriously learn to play guitar. It is believed that the 30-ies among bluesmen is his plate differed largest circulation. He also recorded a lot as an accompanist, in particular, with his brother Sam Uoshbordom. In 1938 and 1939 participated in the famous concert From Spirituals To Swing at Carnegie Hall, organized by John Hammond, Sr. (John Hammond Sr.) And on the Afro-American musical culture. In 1947 made a recording with electric guitar and accompanied by bass and drums. Thus Brunzi one of the first began working in the format of the electric Chicago blues. However, later he returned to the acoustic folk sound. And as such, has toured Europe in 1951. In 1955 published an autobiography 'Blues Big Bill' - also one of the first bluesmen. Two years later he was diagnosed with throat cancer and lung. Despite severe pain, Brunzi continued to act while I was able to walk.

Recorded in 1959 the album 'Muddy Waters sings the blues of Big Bill Brunzi' is a recognition of the importance of creativity in the history of blues Brunzi. In 1980 the name of 'Big' Bill Brunzi made in the 'Hall of Fame' Blues Foundation '.

In his youth Brunzi worked as a farm laborer, and the first development of its unmistakable loud voice with remarkable range and flexibility was when he went for a mule. Even as a child Brunzi he made himself a violin and began to learn to play it under the supervision of his uncle. For a time he worked as a preacher, but later devoted himself to secular life blues singers. After serving in the Army during the First World War, he moved to Chicago where he learned to play guitar under the direction of 'Papa' Charlie Jackson (Papa Charlie Jackson).

. Although, . that as a guitarist Brunzi started quite late, . he soon became a significant level of skill attained, . and on his first recordings, . made in the late 20-ies, . we hear fluent and confident playing guitar in a blues, . and regtaymovoy Forms,
. Voice Brunzi with his clear diction retained hues, characteristic of rural artist, but his game was 'in city' masterly and confident. Thematically, his blues were targeted at blacks, who, like himself, had recently moved to the industrial North the U.S., but to preserve family and cultural ties with southern states. In this capacity, music Brunzi is an example of the movement of blues from the folk music of some areas of the South to the national entertainment industry.

. Sometimes the recording industry used Brunzi in search for new talent, and his highly prized as an accompanist - to 1942, he recorded hundreds of tracks in this capacity, . along with more than two hundred published in the light and plenty of unreleased recordings, . made by him as a soloist,
. His solo recordings, . usually, . followed by changes in musical tastes of the audience: the mid 30's he was almost always recorded with a small group of piano, . rhythm section and, . often, . brass or woodwind, . although juicy, . sustained sound of his guitar has always been at the forefront,


. Despite his undoubted star status (prior to 1949 on his plates, . been produced for black students, . there was no need to mention his full name - was enough to refer to 'Big Bill'!), . dubious financial benefits of participation in the music recording industry did not allow him to fully devote himself to music until his retirement.,

. After the Second World War Brunzi lost some popularity among black listeners, . but by this time he switched to more practical to rich white audience, . consisting of jazz fans and supporters of the nascent movement of folk-revival,
. In 1938 he spoke at Carnegie Hall (Death of a farmer from the delta of the Mississippi!), And in 1951 became one of the first bluesmen who came out in Europe. Brunzi large quantities recorded, . radically changing their repertoire and performing it well-known old blues ( 'Trouble in Mind'), . a blues ballads ( 'John Henry'), . some popular songs ( 'Glory of Love'), . and even protest songs like the witty 'When Do I Get to Be Called a Man',
.

He became a brilliant storyteller, and never ceased to improve their swing, a quick style of play, although at a slow composition of his sound might be somewhat mannered, in the manner of Josh White (Josh White). New Brunzi audience adored him, and the young Chicago blues musicians treated him with great respect. We also know that Brunzi actively helped the young Muddy Waters (Muddy Waters), when he had just arrived from Mississippi to Chicago and took the first steps on the local scene. Later, when Brunzi not be, grateful to Waters in memory of the senior comrade record a whole album of songs Big Bill - "Muddy Waters Sings Big Bill Broonzy".

. In 1955 published a fascinating, . full of interesting stories avtobografiya Brunzi, . compiled on the basis of his letters Bruijn Yannick (Yannick Bruynoghe) - then it should be noted, . that Brunzi learned to write only in 1950 by students of the State University of Iowa (Iowa State University), . where he then worked as a janitor.,

. In life Brunzi was proud, strong man, he was one of the central figures in the history of the blues as in the era of the blues - music of black Americans, and when the blues to know and love throughout the world
. Unfortunately, his reputation suffered somewhat after his death, when his later recordings were regarded as pandering to the tastes of white listeners, but the significance of his early contribution to the music of black Americans was not completely understood. Actually Brunzi was a clever and versatile artist, whose enormous talent has been fully designed to meet the demands of his audience.