McGhee, Walter

McGhee, (Walter Brown) “Brownie” (1915–  ) guitarist, singer, songwriter; born in Knoxville, Tenn. As a child, he learned banjo and guitar, played organ, and sang in church, and at age 14 he began to play music in traveling shows. In the 1930s he played with blues singer Blind Boy Fuller and met harmonica player Sonny Terry. In the 1940s he performed and recorded extensively with Terry, becoming known in folk and blues circles around the world. He also performed in Broadway shows and cut many solo albums.