Washboard Sam - also known as Shufflin’ Sam and Ham Gravy - was probably the most well-known exponent of the washboard in Blues music. Sam accompanied his own singing by washboard, with a self-rigged cowbell attachment, combining powerful percussive skills with his deep, strong, rhythmic voice, to become one of the leading lights of the Chicago Blues scene. He recorded prolifically and successfully throughout the 1930s and '40s, usually in an acoustic, small group format, backed by musicians like Big Bill Broonzy (guitar), Black Bob, Memphis Slim or Roosevelt Sykes (piano), Frank Owens (sax) and Ransom Knowling or Willie Dixon (bass), all of whom are featured here. This double disc set covers his golden years, between 1935 abd1953, predominantly for the Bluebird label, but also featuring recordings for Vocalion, Decca, Perfect, Romeo, Montgomery Ward, Oriole, RCA Victor and Chess Records.
