Today, September 15, is (probably) the birthday of one of the most forgotten names in blues harmonica history: Rhythm Willie.

William Hood — that was the real name behind the nickname — was born around September 15, 1910. The “around” is necessary because even historians couldn’t confirm it for certain: for decades, discographies mixed up his identity with bluesman Robert Lee McCoy (the future Robert Nighthawk), until researchers untangled the mistake.

And it’s not just any name. In Chicago, in the 1930s and ’40s, Rhythm Willie played legendary stages like Club DeLisa and the Rhumboogie Café, earning nicknames like “The Harmonica Wizard” and “King Of The Harmonica.” He recorded 16 tracks between 1939 and 1950 — a small catalog, but enough to intrigue researchers of his story to this day.

One quote sums up the respect he commanded: guitarist Louis Myers, who played alongside names like Little Walter, said Rhythm Willie “was one cat [Little] Walter wouldn’t mess with on the harp” — at a time when Little Walter was practically reinventing the instrument. That’s no small thing.

Even so, Rhythm Willie remains, in the words of a researcher who dug into his story, “one of the most neglected” figures from blues’ early years. He died in May 1954, at 43, and much of his story is still being pieced together from record-label documents and the accounts of those who crossed his path.

There isn’t much visual material of him out there — the one known photo belongs to the archive of Blues & Rhythm Magazine, so we’d rather not reproduce it here. But you can listen. Below, one of his original 1940 recordings, “New Block and Tackle Blues,” with Rhythm Willie & His Gang:

For anyone who wants to dig deeper into his story, researcher Pat Missin has a detailed article on Rhythm Willie’s career.

Every time I hear a recording like this, I remember why I picked up the harmonica in the first place: some people spent their whole lives shaping this instrument, often without getting the credit they deserved. That’s part of what this Journal is about — digging up stories, curiosities and references from the world of blues and harmonica. Starting today, with a tribute to Rhythm Willie.

— Ale Ravanello