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- Blues File: Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
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Willie "Big Eyes" Smith plays both drums and harmonica. He struggled to make a living in Chicago in the 1950's, but things turned up fro him when he joined the Muddy Waters Blues Band as a drummer in the early 1960s. Later he led a group of ex-Waters band members and others in the successful, if hyperbolically named, Legendary Blues Band. For the past ten yeras, Smith has been a front man. He turend 70 this past winter and enters his second decade as a leader with "Way Back" a solid album of Cicago blues featuring blues favorites and some original pieces.
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Piece Description
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith plays both drums and harmonica. He struggled to make a living in Chicago in the 1950's, but things turned up fro him when he joined the Muddy Waters Blues Band as a drummer in the early 1960s. Later he led a group of ex-Waters band members and others in the successful, if hyperbolically named, Legendary Blues Band. For the past ten yeras, Smith has been a front man. He turend 70 this past winter and enters his second decade as a leader with "Way Back" a solid album of Cicago blues featuring blues favorites and some original pieces.
Broadcast History
WXPN-FM 5-11-2006
Timing and Cues
03:37 self-contained. Opens with opening theme & host intro. Ends with song fade.
Musical Works
format:
Artist name "Song Title"
Label Name: A;bum Title
copyright info
catalog number
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith "Read Way Back"
HighTone: Way Back
? 2006 Hightone Records
HCD8191
Bo Diddley "Diddy Wah Diddy"
MCA: Bo Diddley Chess Box, DIsc 1
? 1990 MCA Records, Inc.
CHD2-19502
Muddy Waters "The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock And Roll #2"
Epic/Legacy: Hard Again
? 2004 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
EK 86817
Legendary Blues Band "Money"
Rounder: Red Hot 'n' Blue
? 1983 Rounder Records Corp.
2035
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith "I Don't Trust You Man"
HighTone: Way Back
? 2006 Hightone Records
HCD8191
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith "Woman's World"
HighTone: Way Back
? 2006 Hightone Records
HCD8191
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith "Tell Me Mama"
HighTone: Way Back
? 2006 Hightone Records
HCD8191
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith "Blues And Trouble"
HighTone: Way Back
? 2006 Hightone Records
HCD8191



