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Listen to Brownie McGhee, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

Brownie McGhee

Blues

View Artist

Top Songs By Brownie McGhee

Listen to Bring It On Home to Me by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, see lyrics, music video & more!
Bring It On Home to MeSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to If You Lose Your Money by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, see lyrics, music video & more!
If You Lose Your MoneyBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to You Bring Out the Boogie In Me by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, see lyrics, music video & more!
You Bring Out the Boogie In MeSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to John Henry by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, see lyrics, music video & more!
John HenryBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Sail Away by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, see lyrics, music video & more!
Sail AwaySonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Betty and Dupree by Brownie McGhee, see lyrics, music video & more!
Betty and DupreeBrownie McGhee
Listen to Walk On by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, see lyrics, music video & more!
Walk OnBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to People Get Ready by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, see lyrics, music video & more!
People Get ReadySonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to The Battle Is Over (But the War Goes On) by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, see lyrics, music video & more!
The Battle Is Over (But the War Goes On)Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to White Boy Lost In the Blues by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, see lyrics, music video & more!
White Boy Lost In the BluesSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Latest Release

Listen to Live from the Ash Grove by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMLive from the Ash GroveSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

More albums from Brownie McGhee

Listen to Blues - The Devil's Music by Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Little Brother Montgomery & Roosevelt Sykes
ALBUMBlues - The Devil's MusicSonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Little Brother Montgomery & Roosevelt Sykes
Listen to Steady with the Blues (Live (Remastered)) by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMSteady with the Blues (Live (Remastered))Brownie McGhee
Listen to Step Up by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMStep UpBrownie McGhee
Listen to Be Good To Me by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBe Good To MeBrownie McGhee
Listen to The Old Town Recordings by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMThe Old Town RecordingsBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Blues Bash (Remastered) by Big Joe Williams, Sonny Terry, Lightnin' Hopkins & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBlues Bash (Remastered)Big Joe Williams, Sonny Terry, Lightnin' Hopkins & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Brownie and Sonny: The Giants of the Blues by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBrownie and Sonny: The Giants of the BluesBrownie McGhee
Listen to Walk On (feat. Lightnin' Hopkins & Louisiana Red) by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMWalk On (feat. Lightnin' Hopkins & Louisiana Red)Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Rare Blues Grooves by Brown McGhee, Jay McShann & Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
ALBUMRare Blues GroovesBrown McGhee, Jay McShann & Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Listen to Mississippi Delta by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMMississippi DeltaSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Nothin' but the Blues by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMNothin' but the BluesSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to A Long Way from Home by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMA Long Way from HomeBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Red River by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMRed RiverSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Po'boy by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMPo'boyBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Blues Is Truth by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBlues Is TruthBrownie McGhee
Listen to Blowin' the Fuses from Studio to Stage by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBlowin' the Fuses from Studio to StageSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Not Guilty Blues by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMNot Guilty BluesBrownie McGhee
Listen to Sing the Blues by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMSing the BluesSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Circle Blues Session 1946 by Dan Burley, Brownie McGhee & Sticks McGhee
ALBUMCircle Blues Session 1946Dan Burley, Brownie McGhee & Sticks McGhee
Listen to Blues Masters Vol. 5 by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBlues Masters Vol. 5Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to California Blues by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMCalifornia BluesBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Midnight Special (Remastered) by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMMidnight Special (Remastered)Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Back to New Orleans by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMBack to New OrleansBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Sonny & Brownie by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMSonny & BrownieSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Preachin' the Blues by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMPreachin' the BluesSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Sing and Play by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMSing and PlaySonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Lightnin' Sonny & Brownie by Lightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMLightnin' Sonny & BrownieLightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Brownie & Sonny by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMBrownie & SonnyBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Blues Hoot - Live Recording At The Ash Grove by Lightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMBlues Hoot - Live Recording At The Ash GroveLightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Brownie's Blues (Remastered) by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBrownie's Blues (Remastered)Brownie McGhee
Listen to Hootin' and Hollerin' by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMHootin' and Hollerin'Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Blues Is A Story by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBlues Is A StorySonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Down South Summit Meetin' by Brownie McGhee, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Joe Williams & Sonny Terry
ALBUMDown South Summit Meetin'Brownie McGhee, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Joe Williams & Sonny Terry
Listen to Traditional Blues, Vol. 1 by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMTraditional Blues, Vol. 1Brownie McGhee
Listen to Traditional Blues, Vol. 2 by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMTraditional Blues, Vol. 2Brownie McGhee
Listen to Blues With Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee by Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBlues With Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGheeBig Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Brownie McGhee Sings the Blues by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBrownie McGhee Sings the BluesBrownie McGhee
Listen to Folk Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMFolk Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGheeSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Two for the Road by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMTwo for the RoadSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Back Country Blues by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBack Country BluesSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Listen to Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry Sing by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMBrownie McGhee and Sonny Terry SingBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Blues Masters: Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
ALBUMBlues Masters: Sonny Terry & Brownie McGheeBrownie McGhee & Sonny Terry
Listen to Your Easter Present - Brownie McGhee by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMYour Easter Present - Brownie McGheeBrownie McGhee
Listen to Washboard Country Band Dance Music - EP by Brownie McGhee, Pete Seeger & Sonny Terry
ALBUMWashboard Country Band Dance Music - EPBrownie McGhee, Pete Seeger & Sonny Terry
Listen to Brownie McGhee Blues by Brownie McGhee
ALBUMBrownie McGhee BluesBrownie McGhee
Listen to Get On Board: Negro Folksongs By the Folkmasters by Brownie McGhee, Coyal McMahan & Sonny Terry
ALBUMGet On Board: Negro Folksongs By the FolkmastersBrownie McGhee, Coyal McMahan & Sonny Terry

About Brownie McGhee

Listen to Brownie McGhee, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Hometown
Knoxville, TN, United States
Born
November 30, 1915
Genre
Blues
Brownie McGhee's death in 1996 was an enormous loss in the blues field. Although he had been semi-retired and suffering from stomach cancer, the guitarist was still the leading Piedmont-style bluesman on the planet, venerated worldwide for his prolific activities both on his own and with his longtime partner, blind harpist Sonny Terry. Together, McGhee and Terry worked for decades in an acoustic folk-blues bag, singing ancient ditties like "John Henry" and "Pick a Bale of Cotton" for appreciative audiences worldwide. But McGhee was capable of a great deal more. Throughout the immediate postwar era, he cut electric blues and R&B on the New York scene, even enjoying a huge R&B hit in 1948 with "My Fault" for Savoy (Hal "Cornbread" Singer handled tenor sax duties on the 78). Walter Brown McGhee grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. He contracted polio at the age of four, which left him with a serious limp and plenty of time away from school to practice the guitar chords that he'd learned from his father, Duff McGhee. Brownie's younger brother, Granville McGhee, was also a talented guitarist who later hit big with the romping "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee"; he earned his nickname, "Stick," by pushing his disabled sibling around in a small cart propelled by a stick. A 1937 operation sponsored by the March of Dimes restored most of McGhee's mobility. Off he went as soon as he recovered, traveling and playing throughout the Southeast. His jaunts brought him into contact with washboard player George "Oh Red" (or "Bull City Red") Washington in 1940, who in turn introduced McGhee to talent scout J.B. Long. Long got him a recording contract with OKeh/Columbia in 1940; his debut session in Chicago produced a dozen tracks over two days. Long's principal blues artist, Blind Boy Fuller, died in 1941, precipitating Okeh issuance of some of McGhee's early efforts under the sobriquet of Blind Boy Fuller No. 2. McGhee cut a moving tribute song, "Death of Blind Boy Fuller," shortly afterward. McGhee's third marathon session for OKeh in 1941 paired him for the first time on shellac with whooping harpist Terry for "Workingman's Blues." The pair resettled in New York in 1942. They quickly got connected with the city's burgeoning folk music circuit, working with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Leadbelly. After the end of World War II, McGhee began to record most prolifically, both with and without Terry, for a myriad of R&B labels: Savoy (where he cut "Robbie Doby Boogie" in 1948 and "New Baseball Boogie" the next year), Alert, London, Derby, Sittin' in With, and its Jax subsidiary in 1952, Jackson, Bobby Robinson's Red Robin logo (1953), Dot, and Harlem, before crossing over to the folk audience during the late '50s with Terry at his side. One of McGhee's last dates for Savoy in 1958 produced the remarkably contemporary "Living with the Blues," with Roy Gaines and Carl Lynch blasting away on lead guitars and a sound light years removed from the staid folk world. McGhee and Terry were among the first blues artists to tour Europe during the '50s, and they ventured overseas often after that. Their plethora of late-'50s and early-'60s albums for Folkways, Choice, World Pacific, Bluesville, and Fantasy presented the duo in acoustic folk trappings only, their Piedmont-style musical interplay a constant (if gradually more predictable) delight. McGhee didn't limit his talents to concert settings. He appeared on Broadway for three years in a production of playwright Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1955, and later put in a stint in the Langston Hughes play Simply Heaven. Films (Angel Heart, Buck and the Preacher) and an episode of the TV sitcom Family Ties also benefited from his dignified presence. The wheels finally came off the partnership of McGhee and Terry during the mid-'70s. Toward the end, they preferred not to share a stage with one another (Terry would play with another guitarist, then McGhee would do a solo), let alone communicate. One of McGhee's final concert appearances came at the 1995 Chicago Blues Festival; his voice was a tad less robust than usual, but no less moving, and his rich, full-bodied acoustic guitar work cut through the cool evening air with alacrity. His like won't pass this way again. ~ Bill Dahl

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Brownie McGhee has also released music as a member of Lightnin' Hopkins & The Blues Summit, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Brownie McGhee & His Jook House Rockers, and Union Boys.