Blind Willie McTell was one of the great blues musicians of the 1920s and
1930s.
Displaying an extraordinary range on the twelve-string guitar,
this Atlanta-based musician
recorded more than 120 titles during fourteen recording sessions.
At a time when most blues musicians were poorly educated and rarely travelled,
Willie was an exception. He could read and write music in Braille. As a person
faced with a physical disability and social inequities He travelled extensively,
frequently alone. Like other musicians at the
time, Willie recorded on different labels under various nicknames to skirt
contractual agreements. Thus he was Blind Willie, Georgia Bill, Red Hot Willie
Glaze, Blind Sammie, and Pig 'n’ Whistle Red. The latter name came from a popular
drive-in barbecue restaurant in
Atlanta where he played for tips.
In 1934 Willie married Ruth Kate Williams, with whom he recorded some
duets.
Willie was the only bluesman to remain active in Atlanta until well
after World War II, he
played for tips on Atlanta’s Decatur Street, a popular hangout for local blues
musicians. His last recording was made in 1956 for an Atlanta record-store
owner. Afterward he played exclusively religious music. From 1957 to his death
he was active as a preacher at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Atlanta.
He died from a cerebral haemorrhage on August 19, 1959.