Willie Brown spent all his life (August, 6,1900, Clarcksdale, MS – December, 30,1952, Tunica, MS) in the Delta. He played with Charlie Patton and Son House and recorded by himself only a few (disputed) songs. Brown’s style is very sofisticated, inspired by the rythmic versatility of Charlie Patton and influenced by Son House’s stunning use of syncopes. As a matter of fact, he accompanied Son House from the early 30s to the late 40s.
Willie Brown is especilly known for being referred to in the famous Robert Johnson Crossroad Blues (“my friend-boy Willie Brown”) – some day, baby, I gonna write about that song. It is not quite sure if Johnson referred to him in his verse, but this is the most reliable hypothesis. Anyway, it is also known that the person who had to be notified in the occasion of Johnson’s death was called Willie Brown. At the time, in the Delta, there were at least two bluesmen having this name and probably thousands of other people, but this is a beautiful blues story which I want to believe in. If it is true, it might give us a hint in the attempt of understanding the character.
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