Big Bill Broonzy

Big Bill Broonzy was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s, when he played country music to mostly African-American audiences. In the 1930s and 1940s, he navigated a change in style to a more urban blues sound popular with working-class black audiences. In the 1950s, a return to his traditional folk-blues roots made him one of the leading figures of the emerging American folk music revival and an international star. His long and varied career marks him as one of the key figures in the development of blues music in the 20th century.

26 June 1903

Born on the same birth day (26 June): Anne Catherine of Brandenburg • Aubrey Plaza • Colonel Tom Parker • Fredric Brandt • Gordon McQueen • Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia • J. J. Dillon • Max Biaggi • Nancy Willard • Patty Smyth • Pavel Belyayev • Pearl S. Buck • Preslava • Priscah Jeptoo • Ryan Tedder • Stuart Symington • Toru Goto • Willy Messerschmitt • Wolfgang Unzicker

Born in the same month (June 1903): Al Hirschfeld • Alan Blumlein • Alonzo Church • Aram Khachaturian • Carl Hubbell • Ernie Nevers • John Dillinger • Lou Gehrig • Marcia Davenport • Mary Callery • Ralph Yarborough • Raymond Radiguet • Rose Rand • Yevgeny Mravinsky