Blues Musician. Born in Raymond, Mississippi, he was a guitar player best known as "Kansas Joe" on the music scene in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1920s. In 1929, he teamed up with his wife Lizzie Douglas, recorded the song "Bumble Bee" for Columbia Records which became a hit. He moved to the Chicago blues scene in 1930, where he performed, wrote and recorded his most classics pieces. His many songs included "When the Levee Break", "The Weed Smoker's Dream" and "Why Don't You Do Right?" which remains his most enduring composition. In the 1940s, he created a band known as 'Big Joe and his Rhythm', which performed until his death of heart disease at age 44.
Blues Musician. Born in Raymond, Mississippi, he was a guitar player best known as "Kansas Joe" on the music scene in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1920s. In 1929, he teamed up with his wife Lizzie Douglas, recorded the song "Bumble Bee" for Columbia Records which became a hit. He moved to the Chicago blues scene in 1930, where he performed, wrote and recorded his most classics pieces. His many songs included "When the Levee Break", "The Weed Smoker's Dream" and "Why Don't You Do Right?" which remains his most enduring composition. In the 1940s, he created a band known as 'Big Joe and his Rhythm', which performed until his death of heart disease at age 44.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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