Sonny Boy Williamson

Homage to the Master of the Harmonica or the Gob Organ as it was known in Manchester. And Stevie Winwood certainly did give homage to Sonny Boy when he appeared at the Twisted Wheel at Christmas in 1964. He was backing Sonny Boy after he had finished playing first within the Spencer Davis Group, he was laughing almost uncontrollably when the great man played harmonica in his mouth and then in his nose! Sonny Boy was dressed in his black and white tuxedo and of course had a bowler hat gloves and a leather bag for his harmonicas. The stage presence he had, walking on with groves, then opening up his bag and pulling out a harmonica was somewhat copied years later by another blues player Ellwood in the film the Blue Brothers! Sony Boy Williamson – Spencer Davis I think it must have been Christmas Boxing Day 1964 when I took out a girl friend (she was called Janice, from Blackley Manchester). We went to see Sonny Boy Williamson at the Twisted Wheel. He was great. Dressed in a bowler hat and amazing black and white tuxedo with tails (one side black the other white!) Yes! He did play 'Help Me'. He was backed by the Spencer Davis group and I remember the awe and respect he got from them especially from Stevie Winwood. He played dozens of different harmonicas, some right inside his mouth and to the disgust of my girl friend; he played a tiny harmonica in his nose! She became a fan later though. Unbelievably when he finished his set, I got the opportunity to buy him a coffee. Sonny Boy was also on Granada TV around this time and I think at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. (But memory is not always accurate after 40 odd years or more!)