ArtistInfo

Jazz Gillum

voc, h, 1904-1966 US, Indianola, Mississippi
Musician of Blues
A.k.a. William McKinley Gillum Bill McKinley

Blues Harmonica player Born: September 11, 1904 – Indianola, MS Died: March 29, 1966 – Chicago, IL He began to play the harp as a young boy, and he left home at the tender age of seven to live with relatives in Charleston MS where he played on street corners for spare change. When he visited Chicago, his playing caught the popular mood and when he bumped into guitarist Big Bill Broonzy, they found that their musical styles blended well. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and the two men played together continually until WWII. By 1934 Gillum was recording for ARC Records and Bluebird Records.

Instruments

• Vocals
• Harmonica
• Guitar

Genres

• Blues
• Jazz
• Pop

Plays With