Real name: Joseph Lee Williams

Effective period / Period of releases: 1948 - 1999

Born : October 16, 1903 // Crawford, MS, United States
Died : December 17, 1982 // Macon, MS, United States

Joseph Lee Williams, billed throughout his career as Big Joe Williams, was an American Delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, notable for the distinctive sound of his nine-string guitar. Performing over four decades, he recorded such songs as "Baby Please Don't Go" (Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers), "Crawlin' King Snake", and "Peach Orchard Mama" for a variety of record labels, including Bluebird, Delmark, Okeh, Prestige and Vocalion.

Williams was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame on October 4, 1992.