"An extremely good technician." "He knew the truth even if he couldn't resist dressing it up sometimes."
Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend are talking about Big Bill Broonzy (1903-1958), a native of Arkansas who honed his musical chops on a "diddley bow" (a one-stringed instrument) before becoming a Chicago bluesman with hits including C.C.Rider, Matchbox Blues and Key to the Highway.
Riesman's fascinating book explores the strange story of this seminal figure. A "tremendous storyteller", says Riesman, "and his greatest invention may have been himself."
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