Blind Willie McTell

William Samuel McTier, known as Blind Willie McTell, was the supreme master of the twelve-string guitar and one of the most sophisticated musicians of the pre-war era. Born blind (or nearly so) in eastern Georgia, he traveled widely across the Southeast and recorded for virtually every major label of the era (Victor, Columbia, Decca, Okeh, Vocalion, and Atlantic) under various pseudonyms including Blind Sammie, Georgia Bill, and Hot Shot Willie. His fingerpicking technique on the twelve-string was unmatched, producing a full, ringing sound that was instantly identifiable. His recordings of 'Statesboro Blues,' 'Broke Down Engine Blues,' and 'Dying Crapshooter's Blues' are acknowledged masterpieces. McTell continued performing on the streets of Atlanta until shortly before his death in 1959. Bob Dylan's 1983 tribute 'Blind Willie McTell' is widely considered one of Dylan's greatest songs, and the Allman Brothers Band's version of 'Statesboro Blues' became a Southern rock anthem.