Why do all the old time harp players not use their given names? Did they choose their new "stage names" or were they given out by their peers? ---------- If you don't cut it while it's hot......
@oj-yes of course. Interested to know if there is a story behind the originals. Mentor names protege? Protege by default take mentors name, or part thereof? I've going to have some listening time on airplanes here soon. I think I'll download Adams history of blues mp3s, see if anything is mentioned there. ---------- If you don't cut it while it's hot......
Stage names? Or nicknames? Or both maybe. I dunno about Sonny Boy Williamson, but Sonny Boy Williamson 2 was apparently dubbed this, somewhat dishonestly, by the radio station manager to try and cash in on the success enjoyed by the real Sonny Boy Williamson. Not that 'Sonny Boy' Miller wasn't equally deservingon Miller didn't record under that name until Sonny Boy Williamson had died.
I don't know about the Walter's, but I sometimes imagine that Walter Horton was already known as 'Walter' when Marion Walter Jacobs turned up, and that Little Walter was so named to both associate and distinguish him from Horton, who became 'Big' Walter as a kind of reciprocal arrangement. But I just made that story up. I shouldn't even mention it in jest. It's not true, just my imagination
Walter Horton though was also known as 'mumbles' and 'shakey'. I think both those were given him by others and I think he was not keen on either.
Peg leg Sam actually had a peg leg I believe. I don't know if he chose the name.
Mojo Buford; I don't know.
Snooky Prior. No idea
Big George Harmonica Smith I think did everything on his own account. I get the impression no-one told him what to do.
Who else? Jazz Gillum? Hammie Nixon? Sonny Terry? Who else you thing of?
There's tons of em ... Pinetop Perkins. Little Sonny. Howlin Wolf. Snooky Pryor. Lazy Lester.
I think it was maybe a right of passage thing? Or maybe it's just similar to what Rappers do today. Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, ... ??
I do believe Walter Horton mentions on a track that he had the name little Walter first ..... but gave it up so that Jacob's could have it. There are also a few tracks where Horton is referred to as "little walter" when it's time for him to take His solo.
'Pinetop' is a pretty obvious nickname for pianists; there's been a couple. Howlin' wolf I dunno who dubbed him that, probably himself I'd have guessed. That seems like a pretty obvious 'stage' name relating to his vocal gimmick. Slim Harpo for James Moore; I have read something about that but it is eluding me ATM. Lazy Lester seems like the sort of thing someone else would call a person.
