Brownie mcghee biography channel

American folk-blues musician (1915–1996)

Musical artist

Walter Brown "Brownie" McGhee (November 30, 1915 – February 16, 1996)^[1] was an American folk and Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, best known for his collaboration with the harmonica player Sonny Terry.^[2]

Life and career

McGhee was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee.^[3] At about the age of four he contracted polio, which incapacitated his right leg.

His brother Granville "Stick" McGhee, who also later became a musician and composed the song "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee",^[4] was nicknamed for pushing young Brownie around in a cart. Their father, George McGhee, was a factory worker, known around University Avenue for playing guitar and singing.

Brownie's uncle made him a guitar from a tin marshmallow box and a piece of board.^[5]

McGhee spent much of his youth immersed in music, singing with a local harmony gro