The Invention and Reinvention of Big Bill BroonzyThe Invention and Reinvention of Big Bill Broonzy

"Over the course of his long career, legendary bluesman William 'Big Bill' Broonzy (1893-1958) helped shape the trajectory of the genre ... Along the way, Broonzy adopted an evolving personal and professional identity, tailoring his self-presentation to the demands of the place and time. Kevin D. Greene argues that Broonzy's popular success testifies to his ability to navigate the cultural expectations of his different audiences. Using Broonzy's multifaceted career, Greene situates blues performance at the center of understanding African American self-presentation and racial identity in the first half of the twentieth century.