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Washboard Sam - also known as Shufflin' Sam and Ham Gravy - was probably the most well-known exponent of the washboard in Blues music. Sam accompanied his own singing by washboard, with a self-rigged cowbell attachment, combining powerful percussive skills with his deep, strong, rhythmic voice, to become one of the leading lights of the pre-war Chicago Blues scene. He recorded prolifically and successfully throughout the 1930s and 40s, usually in an acoustic, small group format, backed by musicians like Big Bill Broonzy (guitar); Black Bob, Memphis Slim or Roosevelt Sykes (piano); Frank Owens (sax); and Ransom Knowling or Willie Dixon (bass), all of whom feature herein. This compilation covers his golden years, between 1935-1953, predominantly for the Bluebird label, but also featuring sides from his 170+ commercial recordings for Vocalion, Decca, Perfect, Romeo, Montgomery Ward, Oriole, RCA Victor and Chess.
Washboard Sam