Ralph Willis (blues musician)

Ralph Willis
Also known as	Ralph "Bama" Willis Alabama Slim Washboard Pete Sleepy Joe
Born	ca. 1910 Near Birmingham, Alabama, United States (possible)
Died	June 11, 1957 New York, New York, United States
Genres	Piedmont blues, country blues
Occupation(s)	Singer, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	Late 1930s–1953
Labels	Savoy Records King Records Various

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

Sources suggest that Willis was born either near Birmingham, Alabama, or at Irvin, Wilkes County, Georgia. In the late 1930s, he moved to North Carolina and started to play with musicians who were familiar with Blind Boy Fuller. Willis made his first recordings in 1944 and continued recording until 1953, issuing fifty tracks on several labels, including Savoy, Signature, 20th Century, Abbey, Jubilee, Prestige, Par, and King.

Like Gabriel Brown, Alec Seward and Brownie McGhee, Willis relocated to New York City. At first he was recorded on his own, but eventually his record companies frequently paired him with accompanists. Judson Coleman joined Willis on his 20th Century recordings, and McGhee was employed in 1949. McGhee and Sonny Terry contributed to Willis's later recordings.

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