Big Joe Williams (October 16, 1903 - December 17, 1982) was an American blues musician and songwriter, known for his characteristic style of guitar-playing, his nine-string guitar, and his bizarre, cantankerous personality. He performed frequently, wandering across the United States busking and playing stores, bars, alleys and work camps, as well as recording for Okeh, Bluebird Records, Delmark Records, Prestige Records and Vocalion.
Big Joe's guitar playing is decidedly in the Delta Blues style, and yet is unique. He plays driving rhythm and virtuosic lead lines simultaneously, and sings over it all. He played with picks on his thumb and index finger. His guitar was very heavily modified. He added a rudimentary electric pickup, whose wires coiled all over the top of his guitar. He also added three extra strings, creating unison pairs for the first and second courses and an octave pair for the fourth course.
He was born Joseph Lee Williams, in Crawford, Mississippi, and died at the age of 79.
"Rollin' and tumblin'"
