Sonny Boy Williamson - Fattening Frogs for Snakes (Live Solo)

If the United States of America had, as Japan does, a program that would designate certain older citizens as national living treasures, in a similar fashion to the official designation of national monuments or historical sites, then Sonny Boy Williamson would have qualified. But we don't, and he died in 1965, so it's not going to happen.

His unaccompanied playing here shows a master at work. If you've ever tried to get good at playing a musical instrument, you can tell just how good his technique is here. But he's not showing off -- the song comes first, and everything he does supports it. And...it's live. Based on the sound of the applause, he's got a lot of people watching him, but he is cool and in control, relaxed but sharp. Add in great lyrics, and you've got something special. Which most people have never heard and never will. Oh well.