Memphis Willie B.
| Memphis Willie B. | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Borum |
| Born |
November 4, 1911 Shelby County, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | October 5, 1993 (aged 81) Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | Memphis blues, Piedmont blues |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, harmonica, vocals |
| Years active | Early 1930s–late 1960s |
| Labels | Vocalion, Bluesville |
Memphis Willie B. (November 4, 1911 – October 5, 1993) was an American Memphis blues guitarist, harmonica player, singer and songwriter.
He was known for his work with Jack Kelly's Jug Busters and the Memphis Jug Band. His career was revived in the 1960s after years away from the music industry. He recorded "The Stuff Is Here" and "Stop Cryin' Blues". His 1961 song "Overseas Blues" retrospectively expressed the fear of World War II servicemen who had survived the conflict in Europe and were sent to fight in the Pacific War.
William Borum was born in Shelby County, Tennessee. He was taught to play the guitar by his father, and he busked with Jack Kelly's Jug Busters in his teenage years. He quickly moved on to work with the Memphis Jug Band, which played locally and at the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. He extended his repertoire after being taught to play the harmonica by Noah Lewis.
Willie B. developed away from a disciplined jug band style and played at various locations with Robert Johnson, Garfield Akers, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Willie Brown, who periodically travelled up from the Mississippi Delta to play. Willie B. first recorded at the age of 23, in September 1934 in New York City, for Vocalion Records. He soon returned to working in the Memphis area, in the company of Little Son Joe, Will Shade and Joe Hill Louis.
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