BIOGRAPHY
Alex 'Rice' Miller, later known as Sonny Boy Williamson II, was a blues harmonica player and songwriter who began performing as a child and built a following playing street corners, dances, and house parties. In 1941 he joined King Biscuit Time on Helena, Arkansas radio station KFFA, broadcasts that spread his harmonica style across the Delta years before his recordings reached a national audience. From 1955 to 1964 he recorded roughly 70 songs for Chess's Checker label, including the hit 'Don't Start Me Talkin'', cut with Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Jimmy Rogers, Willie Dixon, and Fred Below. His delivery was sly and world-weary, pairing short rhythmic harmonica bursts with sudden powerful blowing, while his lyrics carried mordant wit and autobiographical detail. Williamson toured Europe with the American Negro Blues Festival alongside Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Lightnin' Hopkins. His song 'Eyesight to the Blind' was later performed by The Who on Tommy and covered by Aerosmith on Honkin' on Bobo.