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Blind Willie McTell
(born William Samuel McTier), an influential American Piedmont blues and ragtime musician. He was a prolific 12-string guitarist and vocalist known for his mastery of the instrument and his smooth, clear tenor voice.
Key Details About Blind Willie McTell
Musical Style: He was a giant in the world of country blues, specifically the Piedmont blues style centered in Atlanta. He was also an adept slide guitarist, which was unusual for ragtime bluesmen.
The 12-String Guitar: McTell famously used a 12-string guitar, which he took up in 1927. This gave his music a distinctive, powerful sound.
Recording Career: Between the 1920s and 1950s, he recorded extensively for labels like Victor, Columbia, and Decca. He often used various monikers to escape contractual obligations.
Legacy: He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1990. Bob Dylan even wrote a famous tribute song titled "Blind Willie McTell" in 1983.
Personal Life: Born in 1898 in Thomson, Georgia, he could read and write music in Braille. In his later years, he became a preacher at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Atlanta before his death in 1959. |
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