Robert Pete Williams
By J Poet
Robert Pete Williams was one of the most unique bluesmen to be discovered during the blues revival of the late 60s. His music had a distinctly African feel marked by driving rhythms, long, shimmering lead lines, and odd time signatures coupled with unrhymed lyrics. His guitar follows his vocal lines, forsaking strict time signatures to produce irregular, but compelling narratives. When folklorist and producer Harry Oster met him at Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana in 1958, he’d never made a professional recording, nor had he ever played the blues as a vocation. Like Lead Belly, he sang himself out of jail, and with Oster’s help, was discovered by folk and blues fans. His rough, idiosyncratic style kept him... Read More
- City Of Origin:
- Zachary, Louisiana, United States
- Genre:
- Blues, Delta Blues, Country Blues
- Birthdate:
- 03/14/1914
- Death date:
- 12/31/1980
