Sonny Terry

Saunders Terrell, known as Sonny Terry, was a Piedmont harmonica player known for his whooping, hollering style that incorporated vocal cries, falsetto yelps, and train imitations into his playing. Partially blinded in childhood accidents, he became a fixture of the Durham, North Carolina, blues scene alongside Blind Boy Fuller and formed a legendary partnership with guitarist Brownie McGhee that lasted over four decades. Terry and McGhee were central figures in the folk revival, performing at coffeehouses, festivals, and concert halls worldwide. Terry also appeared on Broadway in 'Finian's Rainbow' and in several films. His harmonica style was more rhythmic and percussive than the Chicago approach, rooted in the Piedmont acoustic tradition.