Re: [Harp-L] Sonny Boy I and II history question

[Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>]

>From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Boy_Williamson_I:

<blockquote>He [John Lee Williamson] was popular enough that by the 1940s,
another blues harp player, Aleck/Alex "Rice"
Miller<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Boy_Williamson_II>,
who was based in Helena,
Arkansas<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena,_Arkansas>,
began also using the name Sonny Boy Williamson. John Lee is said to have
objected to this, though no legal action took place, possibly due to the
fact that Miller did not release any records during Williamson's lifetime,
and that Williamson played mainly around the Chicago area, while Miller
seldom ventured beyond the Mississippi
delta<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_delta>region until
after Williamson's death. In 1942, John Lee allegedly
confronted Miller, but according to Miller's friend and guitarist Robert
Lockwood, "Big Sonny Boy [Miller] chased Little Sonny Boy [Williamson] away
from there. He couldn't play with Rice. Rice Miller could play Sonny Boy's
stuff better than he could play
it!"[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Boy_Williamson_I#cite_note-1>
</blockquote>

On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 11:37 AM, Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> I think before, because I've read somewhere an account of a confrontation
> between them over the issue. I'll see if I can find it online.
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 11:31 AM, michael rubin <
> michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Most people would agree that Rice Miller lied when he said he had the
>> Sonny Boy name first and that he stole the name to make money off the
>> reputation of John Lee.  Did Rice begin using the name is public
>> before or after John Lee died?
>> Michael Rubin
>> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Arthur Jennings
> http://www.timeistight.com
>



-- 
Arthur Jennings
http://www.timeistight.com