Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee were a prolific blues duo known for their distinctive sound that combined harmonica and acoustic guitar. Born in Georgia in 1911, Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry, was a virtuoso on the harmonica, renowned for his energetic whooping and infectious rhythms that complemented his playing. Walter Brown "Brownie" McGhee, born in Tennessee in 1915, was a masterful guitarist and singer whose smooth vocals and sophisticated finger-picking style offered the perfect counterpart to Terry’s harmonica.

The duo's partnership began in the early 1940s and lasted for several decades, during which they became significant figures in the folk and blues revival movements in the United States and Europe. Their extensive discography includes soulful and stirring tales of life, hardship, and the human condition, elements that are vivid in songs such as "Harmonica and Washboard Breakdown,” and reflective ballads like "Sun’s Gonna Shine." While they toured globally and enjoyed widespread acclaim, they also contributed to the folk community in New York during the 1950s and 1960s, influencing many up-and-coming artists. Despite their eventual split in the 1970s, the musical legacy of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee remains influential, celebrated through collections like "Absolutely The Best: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee" and "Preachin' the Blues," cementing their status as icons of the country blues genre.

Genres

Acoustic Blues

Blues

Traditional Blues

Latest Release

Blue Notes – A Blues Survey from 1920-1960, vol. 5

B.B. King•

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee•

Big Bill Broonzy

Single - Released April 26, 2024