In this column: nicknames, stage names, the bigs, Big Bill Broonzy, Big Joe Williams, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Cudrup, Big Walter Hornton, Big Moose Walker, big-tall-slim, Long John Hunter, Hollywood Fats, Birdlegg Pitmann, Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim
Introduction
In the third episode I tell stories about “The Bigs”; big, tall and slim.
The Bigs
William Lee Conley "Big Bill" Broonzy (born Lee Conley Bradley)
Broonzy was not his real name, he was born Lee Conly (note spelling) Bradley, his first name was Lee, when he started playing in churches as a violinist he changed his first name to Bill, the reason for which is unknown, after he learned to play the guitar, a record was released under the name "Big Bill" (including "Big Bill's Blues in 1927), 1930 a record was released under the name William Lee Broonsey, in 1938 he was listed in a concert program as "Big Bill", it was only much later that he became known as "Big Bill Broonzy".
His career began in the 1920s, playing country music. In the 1930s and 1940s, he played to a more urban blues sound popular with working-class black audiences. In the 1950s, he returned to his traditional folk-blues roots. His long and varied career marks him as one of the key figures in the development of blues music in the 20th century.
Big Bill Broonzy – Worried man blues, Hey, Hey and How you want it done (1957)
Bill in The Netherlands

In 1953 Big Bill met Pim van Isveldt in Amsterdam and in 1956 their son Michael van Isveldt was born. The son looks like his father, just as tall.
Bill died of throat cancer in 1958.
Note
Bill Broonzy had a big influence on my singing of the blues because I could relate to his voice. I had the same tenor voice.
Joseph Lee "Big Joe" Williams
Williams as a youth began wandering across the United States busking (playing in the street) and playing in stores, bars, alleys, and work camps. In the early 1920s he worked in the Rabbit Foot Minstrels revue.
He was notable for the distinctive sound of his nine-string guitar. Performing over five decades, he recorded the songs "Baby, Please Don't Go", "Crawlin' King Snake".
Big Joe was an impressive figure.
Big Joe Williams – the Bagneux Festival, 1971
Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr.
His career lasted over sixty years, and he earned the nicknames like "the Singing Barman", "the Boss of the Blues", and, due to his six-foot-three, 300-pound frame, "Big Joe".
He sang in his church, and on street corners for money. He left school at age fourteen to work in Kansas City's nightclubs, first as a cook and later as a singing bartender. He became known as "The Singing Barman", and worked in such venues as the Kingfish Club and the Sunset, and would frequently perform at these venues alongside his friend Pete Johnson on piano.
During his career, Turner was part of the transition from big bands to jump blues to rhythm and blues to rock and roll. He was a master of traditional blues verses, and at Kansas City jam sessions he could swap choruses with instrumental soloists for hours.
Turner's greatest fame was due to his rock and roll recordings in the 1950s, particularly "Shake, Rattle and Roll".
Big Joe Turner – Shake, Rattle & Roll (Live 1954 performance from Rhythm & Blues Revue)
Big Joe Turner & Jay McShann – Honey Hush (between 1974 and 1979, at the Mutual Musicians Foundation)
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
The Blues Hall of Fame stated that Crudup "became known as 'The Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll' after Elvis Presley recorded three of his songs" but adds that "Crudup was a classic victim of music industry exploitation, and despite the commercial success of his music, was never able to even support his family from his music". "That's All Right" (1946), "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine".
Arthur was tall in comparison to others.
Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup So Glad You’re Mine 1972
"Big Walter" Hornton (Walter "Shakey" Horton)
Horton was renowned for his innovative contributions to the music of Memphis and Chicago. His technique and tone continue to be studied and emulated by harmonica players around the world and he was heralded as one of the most brilliant and creative musicians ever to play the harmonica.
Walter also known as 'Mumbles', 'Shakey', along with 'Tangle Eye' and 'Shakey Head' (because of his head motion whilst playing the harmonica, along with his suffering from nystagmus; the condition is also known as googly eyes or twitchy eyes). Horton was known for his unique tongue-blocking techniques and tone.
It is said that Little Walter was so called because of him.
Big Walter Horton – Hard Hearted Woman
Johnny Mayon "Big Moose" Walker
After serving time in the army during the Korean War he started backing Earl Hooker and Elmore James on piano. When he moved to Chicago in the late 50s he accompanied Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters (playing bass), Ricky Allen, Little Johnny Jones, Howlin' Wolf and Junior Wells. After Hooker's death he played backing Jimmy Dawkins, Mighty Joe Young and Louis Myers.
Moose learned to play several instruments, including the church organ, guitar, vibraphone and tuba.
He acquired his best-known stage name in his childhood in Greenville, Mississippi, derived from his long, flowing hair.
Big Moose Walker and Earl Hooker – Moose Is On The Loose (1969, Moose: vocals, organ, piano – Gino Skaggs, bass – Paul Humphrey, drums – Otis Hale, tenor sax)
Big, Tall and Slim
"Long John" Thurman Hunter Jr.
He was an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Hunter's best known tracks are "El Paso Rock" and "Alligators Around My Door".
He adopted the stage name Long John Hunter in 1953.
Long John Hunter – Chicago Blues Festival (1996)
Michael Leonard "Hollywood Fats" Mann
While in his teens, his mother would drive him to various clubs in South Central Los Angeles to jam with well-known blues musicians when they came to town. He met Buddy Guy and Junior Wells who gave him the nickname. Hollywood Fats toured with James Harman, Jimmy Witherspoon, J. B. Hutto, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, and Albert King.
Fats had an enormous appetite for many things, including Little Debbie cakes.
Sadly, he died at a young age (32) of cardiac arrest.
Hollywood Fats and James Harman
Gene "Birdlegg" Pittman
Bird leg(g)s are small, boney legs, so resemble the legs on birds.
Birdlegg is an American blues harmonicist, singer and songwriter. His own style encompasses country blues, urban blues, funk and rock and roll.
Birdlegg (live) – Why i sing the blues
James Isaac "Slim Harpo" Moore
James was an American blues musician, a leading exponent of the swamp blues style, and "one of the most commercially successful blues artists of his day". He played guitar and was a master of the blues harmonica. His most successful recordings included "I'm a King Bee" (1957), "Rainin' in My Heart" (1961), and "Baby Scratch My Back" (1966).
He began performing in Baton Rouge bars using the name "Harmonica Slim", and also accompanied his brother-in-law Lightnin' Slim in live performances. To differentiate himself from another performer called Harmonica Slim he took his wife's suggestion and adopted the name Slim Harpo. In many parts of the American South, the harmonica was popularly called mouth harp.
Harpo Slim. Slim refers to an attractive and slim man.
Slim Harpo – I Got Love If You Want It
Otis Verries "Lightnin' Slim" Hicks
Otis was an American blues musician who played Louisiana blues and swamp blues. J. D. "Jay" Miller of Feature Records gave in 1954 Hicks the stage name "Lightnin' Slim. His first recording was "Bad Luck Blues" ("If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all"). Slim then recorded for Excello Records for twelve years, starting in the mid-1950s, often collaborating with his brother-in-law Slim Harpo and with the harmonica player Lazy Lester.