Ralph Willis

Born near Birmingham, Alabama in 1910, Ralph Willis was an influential Piedmont blues and country blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His recorded legacy includes sides that were released under pseudonyms such as Washboard Pete, Sleepy Joe, and Alabama Slim. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he relocated to North Carolina in the late 1930s, where he played with musicians from Blind Boy Fuller’s circle. He began his recording career in 1944 and recorded 50 songs spread out over different labels including Savoy, Prestige, King, and Jubilee. He’s known for singles such as “Cool That Thing” and “Shake That Thing”, both released in 1949. He recorded as a solo artist while also collaborating with fellow blues artists including Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Ralph Willis continued recording until 1953. He died on June 11, 1957, of unknown causes. There were many posthumous compilation albums released after his death including Faded Picture Blues (1970), Carolina Blues (1974), and Hop on Down the Line: The (Almost) Complete Recordings (2019).

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