- (This page is about the blues harmonica player. For the other blues harmonica player of the same name, see Sonny Boy Williamson).

Alex or Aleck Miller (originally Ford, possibly December 5, 1912 – May 24, 1965), and was known later in his career as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. He was an early and influential blues harp stylist who recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s. Miller used various names, including Rice Miller and Little Boy Blue, before calling himself Sonny Boy Williamson, which was also the name of a popular Chicago blues singer and harmonica player. To distinguish the two, Miller has been referred to as Sonny Boy Williamson II. (More at Wikipedia)
Links To Peel[]
Sonny Boy Williamson II was one of the bluesmen who toured Britain and Europe in the 1960s and inspired British bands of that era. He recorded a live album with Peel favourites the Yardbirds which was released in 1966 and also recorded with the Animals, although the DJ doesn't seem to have played any tracks from this period of Williamson's career on his shows. However, John played numerous tracks from the artist from 1986 onwards, as well as a few cover versions by a range of artists
Shows Played[]
- 1980s
- 29 July 1981: 99 (album - Sonny Boy Williamson) Chess CXMD 4001
- 29 July 1981: Bring It On Home (album - Sonny Boy Williamson) Chess CXMD 4001
- 06 August 1981: The Key (To Your Door) (album - Sonny Boy Williamson) Chess CXMD 4001
- 20 August 1981: All My Love In Vain (album - Sonny Boy Williamson) Chess CXMD 4001
- 28 March 1983: "99"
- Peel August September 1984: Help Me
- 19 February 1986: Bring It On Home
- 19 November 1986: Your Funeral And My Trial (album - Down And Out Blues) Checker LP 1437
- 1990s
- 03 February 1991: You Killing Me (album - Work With Me) Chess
- 17 February 1991: I Wonder Why (Album, Comp.: Work With Me) Chess
- 02 September 1994: The Key To Your Door (Bring It On Home) Charly
- 30 September 1994: Temperature 110 Degrees
- 08 October 1994 (BFBS): Temperature 110
- 28 October 1994: I Don't Know (album - Bring It On Home) Charly R&B Masters CDRB 7
- 05 November 1994: Dissatisfied (CD - Bring It On Home) Charly R&B
- 16 September 1995: The Key (To Your Door) (album - Bring It On Home) Charly CDRB 7
- 11 January 1997 (& Baby Boy Warren) Chicken (a.k.a. Chuck A Luck) (Compilation LP-Deep Harmonica Blues) (Ace)
- 19 January 1997 (FSK) (With Baby Boy Warren): Chuc-a-luck (Chicken) (v/a CD - Deep Harmonica Blues) Excello
- 25 January 1997 (BBC World Service) (& Baby Boy Warren): Hello Stranger
- 13 April 1999: Ninety Nine (LP: Harp Blues) Ace
- 15 April 1999 (Radio Eins): Ninety Nine
- 29 April 1999 (Radio Eins): Ninety-Nine (v/a album - Harp Blues) Ace
- 2000s
- 31 May 2000: Don't Start Me Talkin' (15xCD - The Chess Story, Disc 5) Chess 380 601-2
- 15 June 2000 (Radio Eins): Don't Start Me To Talkin
- 29 August 2001: Fattening Frogs For Snakes (LP - Down And Out Blues) Checker
- 04 October 2001 (Radio Eins): Fattening Frogs For Snakes (album - Down And Out Blues)
- 02 October 2003: Bring It On Home (LP - Folk Festival Of The Blues) Argo
Covered[]
Artist | Song | First known play by Peel
- Count Bishops: Don't Start Me Talking (session) 27 July 1977
- King Biscuit Boy: Cross My Heart (session) 08 December 1971
- Lightning Slim: Too Close Blues 03 August 1996 (BFBS)
- Soledad Brothers: Bring It On Home (session) 25 June 2003