Sonny Boy Williamson

 

Artist:  Sonny Boy Williamson 
Birth Name:  Alex Or Aleck Ford
Born:  December 5, 1912.  Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, USA
Died:  May 24, 1965 (Aged 53).  Helena, Arkansas, USA
Genre:  Blues, Harmonica Blues, Chicago Blues
Occupation:  Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Band Leader
Instruments:  Singing, Blues Harmonica

Sonny Boy Williamson was an American Blues Harmonica Player, Singer and Songwriter.  He was an early and influential Blues Harp Stylist who recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s.  He first recorded with Elmore James and he toured Europe and recorded with English Rock Musicians, including The Yardbirds, The Animals, and Jimmy Page.  The song "Help Me" became a Blues Standard and many Blues and Rock Artists have recorded his songs.

Title:  The Real Folk Blues (2026)

Genre:  Blues, Harmonica Blues, Chicago Blues

Label:  Chess Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side 1:

 1.  One Way Out (2:44)

 2.  Too Young To Die (2:52)

 3.  Trust My Baby (2:41)

 4.  Checkin Up On My Baby (1:52)

 5.  Sad To Be Alone (2:52)

 6.  Got To Move (2:24)

Side 2:

 1.  Bring It On Home (2:34)

 2.  Down Child ( 2:30)

 3.  Peach Tree (2:31)

 4.  Dissatisfied (2:41)

 5.  That's All U Want (2:13)

 6.  Too Old To Think (2:46)

Personnel:

Sonny Boy Williamson:  Harmonica, Vocals

Buddy Guy:  Guitar on Track 1/1

Robert Lockwood Jr.:  Guitar on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/2, 4-6

Eddie King:  Guitar on Track 2/3

Matt Murphy:  Guitar on Track 2/1

Luther Tucker:  Guitar on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/3-6

Otis Spann:  Piano on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/3-6

Lafayette Leake:  Piano, Organ on Tracks:  1/1, 3, 6, 2/1, 2

Willie Dixon:  Bass on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/2-6

Jack Mayers:  Bass on Track 1/1

Milton Rector:  Bass on Tracks:  1/6, 2/1

Fred Below:  Drums on Tracks:  1/1, 3-5, 2/2-6

Odie Payne:  Drums on Track 1/2

Al Duncan:  Drums on Tracks:  1/6, 2/1

The Real Folk Blues is an album by Sonny Boy Williamson, originally released January 1966 by Chess Records, remastered and reissued on February 20, 2026 by Chess Records.  Pressed on 180 Gram Vinyl.