This Week In The Blues: July 19 - July 25, 2026

HEY BLUES FANS

Here's the latest episode of "This Week In The Blues" for the week of July 19 - July 25, 2026.

Some of the highlights include the day T-Bone Walker first recorded the timeless blues classic "Mean Old World", the man they call The Blues Maestro, Little Freddie King, and Texas blues musician Curly 'Barefoot' Miller.

Keep in mind that there's so much more that happened this week in the blues. If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:
https://bigtrainblues.com
https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Photo credits (if known) and past episodes are posted on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@BigTrainBlues

Here are links to a few of the artists or songs we've referenced in this week's episode:

T-Bone Walker - "Mean Old World" - https://youtu.be/M_ZDGFBKbBM?si=m690j1cU16YhVhd5

Big Joe Williams - "Wild Cow Moan" - https://youtu.be/TZg4sZ-dYvA?si=Aoy4vm8x5JtFljG2

PLEASE CONSIDER joining the Blues Society of Oklahoma and helping them continue their mission - https://bluessocietyoklahoma.com/membership/

ALSO - Join me every weekday from 12:15pm-12:45pm CT to watch a live stream on Facebook of the longest running blues radio show program. https://www.facebook.com/DeltaCulturalCenter 

We’ll have a new episode next week – we’ll see you then!

ARE YOU A FAN OF BLUES HISTORY? US TOO!

 If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:

     https://bigtrainblues.com

     https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Transcript

The man they call The Blues Maestro, Little Freddie King, was born July 19, 1940, in McComb, Mississippi. Despite the name, his style is not based on that of Freddie King, but is more influenced by John Lee Hooker and his approach to electric blues is original. His style is characterized by a powerful, rhythmic approach that blends intricate fingerpicking with forceful strumming. His guitar tone is gritty and soulful, reflecting the hardships and joys of a life dedicated to the blues.

On July 20, 1942 legendary blues musician T-Bone Walker first recorded the timeless blues classic "Mean Old World". It continues to captivate listeners with its raw emotion and haunting lyrics. Written and performed by Walker, this song showcases the essence of the blues genre, delving deep into themes of heartbreak, despair, and the struggles of everyday life.

Born July 21, 1915, blues and jazz guitarist Floyd McDaniel became a fixture of Chicago’s music scene after moving there from Alabama as a teenager. He began performing on city streets before joining the Rhythm Rascals in 1933. After learning electric guitar, he played with the Four and Five Blazes, recording during the late 1940s and early 1950s. McDaniel later backed Sam Cooke, toured with The Ink Spots, and remained active into the 1990s, recording shortly before his death on July 22, 1995.

On July 22, 1947, Big Joe Williams recorded “Wild Cow Moan” in Chicago for Columbia Records, blending raw Delta blues with the harder edge of emerging postwar Chicago blues. Backed by musicians including Sonny Boy Williamson I, Williams delivered a powerful performance driven by his trademark nine-string guitar. The session also produced another version of “Baby Please Don’t Go.” Though never a major hit, “Wild Cow Moan” became an important example of blues music evolving from rural traditions into amplified urban styles.

Born on July 23, 1902, Curly 'Barefoot' Miller became a beloved figure in Texas blues, spending much of his life performing in Dallas. Known as “Dallas’ 92-year-old teenager,” Miller mixed humor, storytelling, and energetic blues performances rooted in the barrelhouse tradition. His “Barefoot” nickname came from his habit of performing without shoes, adding to his memorable stage presence. Though never nationally famous, he became a respected local legend whose performances preserved the spirit of early Southern blues, medicine shows, and street-corner entertainment well into the blues revival era.

Born William Paden Hensley on July 24, 1906, Washboard Willie became a well-known figure in the Detroit blues scene through his lively washboard playing and energetic performances. After relocating to Detroit in 1948, he collaborated with artists including Eddie 'Guitar' Burns and Boogie Woogie Red while fronting his own group, Washboard Willie and the Super Suds of Rhythm. He recorded songs such as “Cherry Red Blues,” toured Europe in the 1970s, and appeared at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival before retiring in 1979.

Born on July 25, 1897, Sylvester Weaver became one of the earliest and most influential recorded blues guitarists. During the 1920s, he helped shape the emerging country blues sound through groundbreaking recordings with singer Sara Martin. In 1923, Weaver recorded “Guitar Blues” and “Guitar Rag,” considered the first blues guitar instrumentals ever recorded. The sessions also featured one of the earliest known examples of bottleneck slide guitar on record, helping establish techniques that later became central to Delta and country blues music.

Alright blues fans, if you want to know more about these stories or other things that happened this week in the blues, then head over to BigTrainBlues.com and explore the archives. Better yet, follow us on social media and see every blues history post. We’ll be back next week with more blues stories, legends, and history. Until then, we will See you at the next stop!