John
William Henderson (he adopted the name James Williamson early in his
career),
was born in Somerville, Tennessee, in, or sometime before 1910, although his
actual birth date has never been verified. He claims that he was born as
early as 1905 which may be true since by the early 1920's he had left home to go on the road, playing guitar
and performing on street corners and at parties and fish fries. For the next
decade he travelled around Mississippi and the Carolina's and during this
period he often performed with contemporaries such as Sleepy John Estes, Yank
Rachell, Big Joe Williamsand Blind Boy Fuller. In the early 1930's he settled in Chicago and made
his first recordings for RCA Victor. During the 1940's he began
playing with Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice
Miller) and in the 1950's he frequently joined up with Elmore James(who he claimed was his cousin), recording with him on occasions.
Probably his best recordings are as a solo performer and he gained his
nickname relatively late in his career in 1952 when his recorded his classic
track "Homesick" for Chance Records. He continued to record
prolifically throughout the 1960's and 1970's, and even when he was well into his 90's
(and possibly nearing 100 years old) he continued touring and recording. His
last public appearance was at a festival in July 2006 in England when he was
clearly ailing, and he passed away later that year.
John
William Henderson (he adopted the name James Williamson early in his
career),
was born in Somerville, Tennessee, in, or sometime before 1910, although his
actual birth date has never been verified. He claims that he was born as
early as 1905 which may be true since by the early 1920's he had left home to go on the road, playing guitar
and performing on street corners and at parties and fish fries. For the next
decade he travelled around Mississippi and the Carolina's and during this
period he often performed with contemporaries such as